Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University softball team collected their second sweep in as many days, defeating NSIC leaders Minnesota State. The Wolves won 3-2 in game one, and clinched the sweep with a 9-1 victory after five innings in game two. NSU advanced to 18-22 overall and 8-8 in conference action, while the Mavericks drop to 30-11 overall and 13-4 in the NSIC.
 
Game One
 
The two teams battled in the first two innings, remaining scoreless until the top of the third when the Mavericks took the 2-0 lead off of a triple, a walk and two singles.
 
Northern State chipped away in the bottom of the fifth as Brittney Lash was hit by a pitch, and advanced to second on a wild pitch to start the inning. With Lash in scoring position, Katie Dawson ripped a double to right field. Northern State would end the inning down by one run.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, down to their last at bat, Northern State's Jess Vernon entered the game to pinch hit with two outs. Vernon dropped a bunt down in front of the plate, beating the throw to first for a base hit. At the plate next, freshman Courtney Sjerven singled to score Jess Vernon from first. Sjerven then advanced to third on a fielding error by the right fielder. With two outs and a runner on third, Katleynn Dilts approached the plate next. The junior singled up the middle to score the go-ahead run for the Wolves.
 
NSU tallied seven hits in 26 at bat in the contest. Katelynn Dilts led Northern State with two hits and an RBI from the plate.
 
Jamie Fisher sealed her sixth victory of the season from the mound. Fisher held the Mavericks to two earned runs with five strikeouts against the Minnesota State offense.
 
Game Two
 
Missy Elkins started game two with back-to-back strikeout for the Wolves. Minnesota State tallied a pair of base runners, however the NSU defense escaped the jam.
 
The Wolves collected their first run of the match in the bottom of the third inning as senior Macey Engel led-off with a solo homerun down the left field line.
 
After a 1-2-3 top of the third, the Wolves looked to add runs in the bottom of the inning. Michaela Liebl started the rally with a single to right field.  Freshmen Courtney Sjerven followed with a double to left field to score Liebl. Kalie Maiden and Katelynn Dilts each reached base with RBIs. With one outs, Macey Engel and Jamie Fisher continued the attack with a pair of grounders through the infield, pushing the NSU lead to 5-0. Katie Dawson and Michaela Liebl each added a pair of singles to the outfield, completing the inning with a 7-0 advantage.
 
Holding the Mavericks to no hits in the top of the fourth, Northern State kept the bats going in the bottom of the inning. Katelynn Dilts doubled to left field in her final plate appearance. Junior Rachel Albright homered to right center to add two insurance runs for the Wolves.
 
Down 0-9, Minneosta State's Cori Kennedy led-off the top of the fifth with a double to left center. The Mavericks advanced Kennedy to third on the next play, with Alyssa Rickels at the plate next. Rickels singled to short to plate the first run of the game for the Mavericks. 
 
The Wolves seal the 9-1 victory after five innings, collecting 10 hits in 23 at bats. Macey Engel, Katie Dawson and Michaela Liebl each recorded two hits from the plate. Both Rachel Albright and Macey Engel knocked in a pair of runs for Northern State.  
 
Missy Elkins held the Mavericks to four hits and one earned run from the mound. The junior is now 10-10 in the 2016 season.
 
Northern State will face U-Mary from home on Tuesday at 2 and 4 p.m. from Moccasin Creek.