Softball splits weekend series

Colton Molesky
Staff Writer

The Minnesota State Mavericks softball team spent the weekend abroad, with road series against the Minnesota State Moorhead Dragons and the Northern State Wolves, starting out 2-0 and finishing the weekend 2-2.

After the weekend, the Mavericks record sits at 28-14 and 9-9 in the NSIC conference.

Against Moorhead, MSU exhibited defensive prowess by outscoring the Dragons 14-0 in two games. Mackenzie Ward was a headliner from the mound, tossing nine strikeouts in just four innings. The opening game against the Dragons only lasted five short innings before the home team was 10-run ruled. Following the obliteration, Ward took the mound again, tossing four more strikeouts and pinning the opposition behind another dismal zero score.

The bats were also lively, as Jess Meidl had a season-best two home run performance against the Dragons on two hits. If Meidl took the show at the plate in game one, game two was captivated by the offense of Carly Esselman. Esselman recorded three hits and a run on four trips to the plate, leading the Mavericks in contact that counts.

If the trouncing of the Dragons went as well as possible, the series against the Wolves was less than inspiring. The Mavericks dropped both games against Northern State, with a run differential of 5-1 in two games as the bats went quiet.

Jamie Fisher controlled the Mavericks from the mound, pitching for all seven innings and taking on 25 batters. Fisher allowed only seven hits and a single run in her outing, helping the Wolves sink their defensive teeth into MSU early.

Game two was even tighter and Northern State slid past MSU 1-0 on the heels of another sound pitching performance. Makenzie Merritt held her place on the hill for six innings, allowing only three hits will zipping in a pair of strikeouts.

On offense, the lone competitor to find home plate never recorded an at-bat. Emma Terveer played the role of pinch runner, rounding the bases for the games only score, thanks to Cassidy Schaar’s centerfield single.

The Mavericks have watched mixed results over the past month, streaking to four games of wins and losses, along with weather canceling a host of games. But the going should prove easier for the Mavericks going forward, as MSU plays on home turf for the first time this season. Due to the late snow, the Mavericks have been forced to stay road bound, now playing in Mankato for the final six games of the regular season.