Mavericks Down Mustangs In Marathon
9/11/2009 4:42:01 PM
Winona, Minn. --- Minnesota State sophomore first baseman Julie O’Neal’s RBI single to leftfield in the bottom of the 12th inning propelled Minnesota State a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over Southwest Minnesota State in an elimination game of the 2009 NCAA Central Region Tournament played at Alumni Field in Marshall, Minn.
The Mavericks will now face Wayne State in an elimination game at 6:30 p.m.
Minnesota State threatened in the bottom of the first as senior rightfielder Jess Anderson reached on a one-out walk and moved to third on a double off the bat of senior second baseman Katie Reed, her tenth of the year and 40th of her career.
SMSU pitcher Amanda Johnson used a lineout and a strikeout to get out of the jam unharmed and keep the game scoreless.
The Mustangs jumped on the board in the top of the second as Amanda Voss singled to left with two outs. On the ensuing swing, Kiley Petersen knocked a home run over the rightfield wall to give SMSU a 2-0 advantage after two innings.
SMSU added another run in the top of the third as Jessica Paczosa took the first pitch of the third inning over the fence to extend the lead to 3-0.
Meaghan Leatsch followed with a four-pitch walk before Kristin Braden doubled to rightcenter putting runners at the corners. Amanda Burkhart then drew a walk to load the bases before redshirt freshman Kendra Huettl worked her way out of the jam with a fielder’s choice sandwiched between a pair of strikeouts.
The Mavericks jumped on the board in the bottom of the fourth when junior catcher Kelsey Thompson blasted a one-out solo-shot to centerfield, her 12th of the year. The home run moved Thompson into a tie with Ashley Jay (2006) for second on the school’s single-season list.
Minnesota State added a run in the seventh as Anderson reached on a bunt single before Reed blasted a double to centerfield to plate Anderson, cutting the lead to 3-2. Sophomore third baseman Natalie Spicer and Thompson would walk to load the bases for sophomore first baseman Julie O’Neal.
O’Neal would draw a five-pitch walk to tie the game at three. Freshman leftfielder Chelsea Erickson grounded out to end the inning and force extra innings.
Neither team could muster much of a threat until the 12th when Reed drew a leadoff walk. Spicer and Thompson each reached on bunt singles to load the bases for O’Neal and set up her heroics.
Huettl went the distance for Minnesota State (39-16) allowing three runs –all earned – on five hits. She did not allow a hit in the final nine innings to secure the win. She struck out seven and walked five as she improved to 22-8 on the season.
Johnson took the loss for SMSU. She allowed 11 hits over 11 innings while striking out eight and walking seven.
Reed went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI in the win to pace MSU. Anderson and Thompson each added two hits as well.
NOTES: Junior shortstop Libbie Reichling missed her first start of the season and snapped her 115 consecutive starts…Reichling left yesterday’s game with an injury…Reichling did appear in the game in the bottom of the sixth as a pinch-hitter…Reed is now tied for third on the school’s all-time doubles list with 41…She passed Erin Goettlicher (1998-01) for fourth with 40 and is tied with Kari Hudson (2004-07) for third…There have been five players in school history to have hit 40 or more doubles during their tenure at Minnesota State…Junior centerfielder Abby Morris became the school’s all-time leader in stolen bases when she swiped second in the bottom of the fifth inning…Morris has swiped 49 bases in 54 attempts in her career…Reed walked in the bottom of the 12th to become the school’s all-time leader in walks with 73…She passed Michelle Seiger (1998-01) for the school record).