Box Score Rochester, Minn. --- The Minnesota State University softball began the NSIC softball tournament with a 5-0 win over St. Cloud State, earning its 35^th win of the 2013 campaign.  
 
The Mavericks were able to find their way into the run column in the bottom of the second inning as senior Jenna Peterson found her way across the dish, she reached base by way of a fielder’s choice, junior Eryn Edgerton tallied MSU’s second run of the inning, she reached by way of a walk and was batted in senior Abby Sonner, giving the Mavericks a 2-0 lead after two complete innings played.
 
MSU would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Sonner recorded a leadoff solo home run, her third of the season, extending the Mavericks lead to 3-0.
 
The Mavericks were not done offensively, as senior centerfielder Lauryn Morris crossed the dish, off of an RBI double by junior catcher Lindsay Erickson. Junior outfielder Anna Cole, not to be outdone, recorded an RBI single, scoring Sonner pushing the MSU lead to 5-0 after six complete innings of play.
 
The five run deficit proved to be insurmountable by the Huskies as they were only able to record two hits on senior pitcher Courtney McKelvogue, who recorded her 20^th  win of the season. McKelvogue pitched all seven innings, giving up two hits, while recording seven strikeouts and did not walk a single batter.
 
MSU was led offensively by Sonner who recorded two runs and two RBI on one hit in one at-bat and was walked twice. Morris recorded two hits and one RBI while scoring one run in two at-bats.
 
The Mavericks will return to the diamond tomorrow at 4 p.m. as they square off against Minot State in the winner’s side of the bracket quarterfinal round in Rochester, Minn.