SIOUX FALLS, S.D. --- The Minnesota State softball team final play in the NSIC Tournament Saturday afternoon as it defeated Sioux Falls 6-2, before falling to #9 Augustana 6-5. MSU now owns a 38-23 overall record.

The Mavericks began the day with a 6-2 victory over Sioux Falls. Sophomore Coley Ries (21-15) picked up the win as she gave up two unearned runs in six innings, while posting 10 strikeouts. Breanna Black (20-13) took the loss as she gave up six runs, five earned, in six innings.

The Maverick offense notched a total of 12 hits as it scored six runs in its opening contest of the day. Junior Tatum Klein got the scoring going in the bottom of the second as she drove in freshman Jess Meidl with a single up the middle to make it 1-0. MSU scored two more runs in the bottom of the third and sophomore Dana Mogren notched a solo home run to left center, before doubled in sophomore Ashley Thell to make 3-0.

The Mavericks added another run in the bottom of the fourth to go up 4-0, but USF was able to cut into the Mavericks' lead in the top of the fifth as Erin Scott and Shannon Daly each drove in a run to bring the Cougars within two runs of that Mavericks at 4-2.

MSU would add another run in both the bottom of the fifth and sixth innings to stop any potential comeback by the Cougars. Junior Karli DesLauriers scored via an error in the bottom of the fifth, before sophomore Samantha Buhmann doubled in Thell in the bottom of the sixth to make it 6-2. Freshman Libby Bemis came on in relief of Ries in the top of the seventh to close out the win for MSU.

Minnesota State was knocked out of the NSIC Tournament by ninth-rated Augustana. The Vikings defeated the Mavericks 6-5. Ries (21-16) took the loss as she gave up four runs in 4.1 innings. Carley Pickett (17-4) earned the win as she gave up three runs in five innings of work. Jenelle Trautmann earned the save as she threw the final two innings in relief of Pickett.

MSU scored a run in each of the first three innings to build an early 3-0 lead. Mogren singled in Klein in the top of the first, before Buhmann blasted a home run to left center in the top of the second to make it 2-0 in favor of the Mavericks. Meidl made it 3-0 in the top of the third as she drove in junior Emily Bransky.

Minnesota State maintained its 3-0 lead into the bottom of the fifth, but the Augustana bats would finally come alive as the Vikings posted three home runs to take a 4-3 lead. Pickett launched a solo shot to center to make it 3-1, before Trautmann tied the game with a two-run shot to center. Carly Peterson then put Augustana on top 4-3 with a solo home run of her own.

Augustana would add two more runs in the bottom of the sixth, both of which came off the bat of Jordan Schaffer, who posted a two-run single up the middle to put Augie up 6-3.

The Mavericks tried to claw their way back into the game in the top of the seventh. Trautmann was able to get the first two batters to ground out, but Bransky was able through the right side to extend the inning. Mogren then stepped up to the plate and launch a two-run home run to center to bring the Mavericks within one of the Vikings at 6-5. Trautmann was able to recover in time to get Thell to strikeout to lock down the save for Augustana.

Mogren led the MSU offense with two hits and three RBI, while Bransky scored a team-leading two runs.  

The Mavericks will learn the NCAA postseason fate on Monday during the NCAA Selection Show. The selection show will be streamed on the NCAA website at 9 a.m.

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