Softball splits weekend series

Jake Rinehart
Staff Writer

On Thursday the Mavericks travelled to Winona for a matchup against the No. 10 Warriors. This was the second time the Mavericks and Warriors faced off this season.

The Warriors got the victory in game one by a score of 6-5.

It was a back and fourth game that was pushed to nine innings.

In the bottom of the ninth, WSU batter Allison Nowak was walked with the bases loaded to allow Katelyn Kolb to score the game-winning run.

The Mavericks lost the second game of the double header against Winona State by a score of 8-0.

Minnesota State travelled to the West St. Paul dome in St. Paul Friday for a doubleheader against the Bemidji State Beavers.

The first game of the two-game series was won handedly by the Mavericks by a score of 8-0.

The Mavericks scored at least one run in every inning against the Beavers.

Freshman infielder Hannah McCarville led the Mavericks at the plate, going 2-3 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Freshman hard-thrower Mackenzie Ward pitched very aggressively in this game, as she struck out five Beavers on only one hit. Ward’s record moved to 11-6 on the season after the victory.

Senior centerfielder Jess Meidl stole a base in this game, tying her with former Maverick great, Tatum Kien, for the most stolen bases in Maverick history at 104.

The second contest of the doubleheader was more of the same for the Mavericks, as they earned the 5-0 victory.

Meidl grounded out to the shortstop in the third inning, but that would be enough to score McKenzie Paap.

The designated-hitter for the Mavericks, Hailey Forshee, showed her power in this game, as she hit a two RBI home run in the fourth inning. The freshman from Lakeville, Minnesota, now has three home runs this season.

In the seventh inning, Meidl would knock home Paap again with a triple. Meidl has now hit two triples on the season.

Meidl finished the game going 2-4 with two RBI and a run scored.

Meidl also stole a base in this game, which moved her to No. 1 in stolen bases in Maverick history. In her four-year career with the Mavericks, she has stolen 105 total bases, including 16 this season.

Meidl has averaged 29 stolen bases in her first three years with the Mavericks. If she matches that number, she will end her MSU career with 118 career stolen bases, a number that would stand in history for quite some time.

The Mavericks will play their first home game today at noon against the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs, and then following that up with another game later on again in a double-header, weather permitting. The Mavs hope to start a winning streak now that they have the advantage of playing at home for the first time all season.

Photo: (Courtesy of photos.paap.net)