MANKATO — Jordyn Marsh’s stellar pitching performance for the Southwest Minnesota State University softball team led the Mustangs to a 9-4 win over Minnesota State in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader on Friday. SMSU pulled ahead with a pair of runs in the first inning and never looked back, claiming its first win over the Mavericks since 2018.

Marsh pitched the full seven innings for the Mustangs, limiting the Mavericks to three earned runs. She struck out five batters in the game while limiting Minnesota State to seven hits and a pair of walks.

After a Riley Kramolisch single, a Grace Anderson double and an Aliza Acker walk loaded the bases with one out, Marsh singled to center field to drive in a pair of go-ahead runs, with an error by the Mavericks pushing across the second of the two runs. Marsh finished the day with a double, a single and three RBIs in four at-bats.

Since SMSU’s last win over Minnesota State, the Mavericks had won 16 consecutive games against the Mustangs.

Finley Anderson walked in the third before scoring an unearned run on an Izzy Hycnar single, cutting the deficit in half for the Mavericks.

Still, SMSU re-established its lead in the fifth. Anderson reached on an error and scored after Acker and Emma Humpal each singled. With two outs, Anderson hit a two-run double to bring the Mustang edge to 5-1.

Minnesota State put together a rally in the ninth, but it was too little, too late. Avery Dorman singled and, after Marsh retired a pair of batters, Maddie Helin hit a two-run home run to cut the deficit to 9-4. Still, Marsh induced a ground out in the next at-bat to secure the win.

Kramolisch hit a triple and two singles in five at-bats while Anderson, Acker and Humpal each also finished with multiple hits. Acker also drew a pair of walks to reach base four times in three at-bats.

In the top of the seventh, the Mustangs pushed four runs across the plate to bring their lead to its apex. Paris Van Dyke drew a walk, advanced to third on a pair of ground outs and scored on a throwing error by the Mavericks. With two outs, Carley Stych drew another walk and scored on a Kramolisch triple, and Anderson and Humpal each drove in another run with a single to bring the score to 9-2.

Maddie Oetzmann hit a pop out in the sixth to drive in Ysabel Lerma for the Mavericks’ first earned run of the game.

Oetzmann started on the mound for the Mavericks, giving up six earned runs on six hits and five walks over 1 2/3 innings of work, spread out throughout the game. Lucy Porter also surrendered two earned runs over 3 1/3 frames, while Hannah Tong and Reese Falish combined for two scoreless innings of relief.

Hycnar and Ireland Broderick were the lone Mavericks to reach base multiple times in the game. Hycnar finished with a double and two singles while Broderick walked twice.

Minnesota State 8, SMSU 7

MANKATO — A strong effort wasn’t enough for SMSU to complete the sweep in the second game of its double header against Minnesota State on Friday. The Mustangs scored a pair of seventh-inning runs to force extras, but Minnesota State walked off the Mustangs in the ninth, 8-7.

Helin led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and scored when Gianna Lara doubled on the second pitch of the second at-bat to send the Mavericks home with a win.

SMSU trailed 7-5 heading into the bottom of the seventh but stepped up with its back against the wall. Ava Rud was hit by the first pitch of the inning and Jordyn Marsh worked a walk to put the tying run on base. Carley Stych reached on a fielder’s choice to load the bases and Anderson hit a two-run single up the middle to tie up the game. Still, Minnesota State retired each of the next two batters to prevent SMSU from securing the win.

Ramsey Hopp pitched all nine innings for SMSU, surrendering eight earned runs on 14 hits. She struck out three batters while walking one.

Humpal got the Mustangs off to a hot start in the top of the first. Kramolisch led off the inning with a double and scored when Anderson reached on an error, bringing Humpal to the plate with one on and one out. She hammered a homer down the left field line to give SMSU a 3-0 lead, though Minnesota State responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame and four more in the second to take the lead.

Humpal and Anderson each drove in a pair of runs in the game while Acker reached base three times with a double and two walks.

Jorey Fry pitched the full game for Minnesota State, allowing six earned runs on seven hits and seven walks with a strikeout.

The Mavericks were led at the plate by Lara, who finished with two doubles and two singles for three RBIs. Helin also had three hits with a pair of doubles and a pair of RBIs while Nyah Hulbert logged a triple, a single and an RBI.

SMSU now sits at 3-3 on the season and next heads to Sioux Center, Iowa for a doubleheader against Upper Iowa on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.