Softball improves to 13-4 following NTC Spring Games in Florida

The Minnesota State softball team completed a successful week-long trip this past week to the NTC Spring Games in Clermont, Fla. The NTC Spring Games is the world’s largest softball event that hosts hundreds of college teams from across the nation. The Mavericks came into the trip with a 6-3 overall record. 

MSU opened their trip to The Sunshine State on Mar. 5 with a game against Tiffin University. The Mavs would be the first to get on the board in the second inning after sophomore Madi Newman got walked, resulting in an RBI. 

The Dragons would respond with a dominant sixth inning, however, that saw them put five runs up on the scoreboard. Newman would answer back for the Mavericks with a sacrifice RBI in the seventh, but it was too late as MSU fell to the Dragons 2-5. 

Minnesota State had a quick turnaround taking on University of Southern Indiana just a couple hours later. MSU opened the scoring in the third inning when freshman infielder Cheyenne Behrends popped her first homerun of the season, giving them a 1-0 lead. The Mavericks would add one more run in the fourth inning and defeated Southern Indiana 2-0.

The Mavs continued their tournament play the next day against Edinboro University. The Mavericks got out to a hot start in the third inning highlighted by a homerun coming from sophomore infielder and catcher Sydney Nielsen. 

The Mavs would add three more runs in the fifth inning, defeating the Fighting Scots 6-0. The Mavericks second game that day against Shippensburg University was canceled due to an umpire shortage. 

Minnesota State returned to action on Mar. 7 as they took on Northwood University in an early morning tilt. Their game against Northwood proved to be close as an RBI in the first and fifth innings was all the Mavericks needed to take the 2-0 victory over the Timberwolves. 

MSU continued their action that day as they battled Saginaw Valley State University just two hours later. This game proved to be close, as neither team was able to record a run until the 11th inning. 

Senior infielder Torey Richards was the first to score as she recorded a sacrifice fly RBI. Just a few moments later sophomore outfielder Kylie Sullivan gave the Mavs a 3-0 lead as she tallied a two-run homerun to center field.

The Cardinals would score one run in the bottom of the 11th, and the Mavericks took that game 3-1. Minnesota State had a couple of days to rest, as their games against Bloomfield College and Clarion University on Wednesday were canceled due to inclement weather.

The Mavericks returned to action on Thursday as they took on Concord University in a pair of games. Game one against Concord saw the Mavs have controlled pressure on both sides of the bat as they took that game by a score of 5-1.

Just a few hours later, the Mavericks would have a rematch with the Mountain Lions, hoping for a similar outcome as before. MSU would jump out to an early 6-0 lead in the second inning with four of their runs coming off wild pitches. 

Concord would add one run in the bottom of the second, but that was all they could produce during the game. Richards would have two RBIs in the third and fifth innings as Minnesota State dominated Concord 9-1.

MSU concluded their tournament that same day taking on Stonehill College in a late-afternoon matchup. The Mavs’ bats continued to get hot as seven different players contributed to 9 runs scored in the first four innings. 

Stonehill’s Courtney Brochu would add an RBI single in the fourth, but it was too little too late as Minnesota State beat Stonehill 9-1. 

MSU pitcher Mackenzie Ward was honored as the NSIC pitcher of the week as she had 27 strikeouts and held opponents to a .118 batting average in four starts. 

The Mavericks are back in action this week as they travel to St. Joseph, Mo. for the Fairfield Classic.

Write to Karson Buelow at karson.buelow@mnsu.edu.