GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

MARSHALL, Minn. – Minnesota State, ranked No. 16 in the country, used a shutout performance from Kendra Huettl and a solo home run from Lindsay Erickson to defeat Southwest Minnesota State (24-15, 12-7 NSIC) 2-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon in Marshall.

The Mavericks (38-9, 15-5 NSIC) scored two runs, one earned in top of the fifth inning in game two to earn the series sweep over SMSU.

In game one, Minnesota State scored one run in the fourth inning and one run in the sixth inning taking the 2-0 win over SMSU. The Mavericks are ranked second and SMSU is ranked No. 8 in the NCAA Central Region softball rankings.

Erickson homered over the left field wall in the top of the fourth inning for MSU putting the Mavericks on the board. Minnesota State finished the game with eight hits while Huettl held SMSU to just three hits in the game. Huettle struck out seven batters and allowed two walks earning her 20th win of the season.

Ali Honken was tagged with the loss for SMSU. She finished the game tossing seven innings giving up eight hits, two runs and one walk while striking out six batters. Honken is now 14-7 on the season.

Kris Penick raised her batting average to over .300 on the season delivering four hits on the day. She accounted for two of SMSU's three hits in game one, and two of SMSU's five hits in game two. Penick raised her average to .311 with the four hits.

Penick singled through the left side of the infield in the fifth inning of game one and beat out an infield single to second base in the bottom of the seventh inning but it would not be enough for SMSU to tally a run in the first game.

The two teams played four innings of scoreless softball in game two before Minnesota put a crooked number up in the top of the fifth inning in game two taking a 2-0 lead. Chelsey Erickson reached base on an error by SMSU and would come around to score on a triple by Kelly Wood. Abby Sonner followed that with an RBI double to give MSU a 2-0 lead.

SMSU's Chelsey Evans would get the next two batters on a strikeout and a ground out to end the inning.

Evans tossed all seven innings for SMSU striking out six batters and walking two, giving up two runs, one earned. Her mound opponent Courtney McKelvogue pitched 6.1 innings earning her 16th win of the season striking out eight batters in the game. Huettle pitched 2/3 of an inning earning the save.

Southwest Minnesota State put together a threat in the home half of the seventh inning. With one out in the inning, Jennifer Johnson and Penick each walked to put runners at first and second for SMSU.

After a strikeout by Huettl, who replaced McKelvogue in the inning, Amy Dreessen delivered a two-out single to load the bases.

Christine Borowiak earned an RBI coaxing a walk to put the Mustangs on the board for the first time of the day. Krista Steen then struck out looking to end the game.

Southwest Minnesota State finished the game with five hits but failed to push runs across the plate in the 2-1 loss to the Mavericks.

Southwest Minnesota State closes its regular season out on the road beginning with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. Friday afternoon at Concordia-St. Paul.

The Mustangs will then travel to Aberdeen, S.D. to take on Northern State in a twinbill beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday before putting an end to the regular season on Sunday at the University of Mary at noon.