BOX 1 | BOX 2
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - No. 13 Minnesota State broke No. 23 Augustana's 10-game winning streak by sweeping the Vikings in a conference doubleheader Tuesday afternoon. Minnesota State won Game 1 2-0 and Game 2 5-3.
Augustana drops to 31-6 (9-3 NSIC) while Minnesota State improves to 31-6 (11-1 NSIC).
Ashley Meyer (14-3) took the loss in Game 1 but held the Mavericks scoreless through 5.0 innings before giving up a two-run home run by Mankato's Chelsea Erickson.
The Vikings threatened throughout the game but left eight runners stranded.
In the bottom of the fifth,
Kelsey Kalkman led off with a double into left center then moved to third on
Chelsey Durland's sacrifice bunt. After
Matley Jones walked and stole second base,
Chelsi Winskowski struck out swinging and
Theresa McMahon hit a sharp liner that found the right fielder's glove.
Their biggest threat came in the bottom of the sixth when
Elizabeth Murray walked with one out in the inning. After
Erin Kempf pinch ran,
Jenelle Trautmann into singled right field and
Lindsay Spanton beat out a ground ball single to the pitcher. With the bases loaded, Kempf was thrown out at the plate and Durland popped up to the pitcher to end the inning.
Kalkman was 2 for 3 in the game.
In Game 2,
Jenelle Trautmann (14-3) held Minnesota State scoreless until the top of the fourth when Amanda Umhoefer walked and later scored on Chelsea Erickson's single through the middle.
Augustana answered back immediately in the bottom of the fourth. Murray led off with a single into right field and moved to second on Trautmann's ground ball to third. Murray then scored on Spanton's double into left field. Kempf replaced Spanton on the base path moved to third on Kalkman's ground ball out. Kempf scored when Winskowski reached first on an error.
Augustana led 3-1 after the fifth inning when McMahon drove a 1-0 pitch over the left field wall, but Minnesota State regained the lead in the top of the sixth.
The Mavericks loaded the bases with no outs before Lindsey Erickson was thrown out at the plate on a fielder's choice. Abby Sonner then sent a 0-1 pitch over the center field wall for a grand slam home run in the next at-bat.
McMahon finished Game 2 with a 2 for 4 performance that included a home run, while Murray went 2 for 3 with a run scored.
