Strong pitching by Minnesota State derailed the Cougars offensively in Tuesday's doubleheader in Mankato, Minn. as the Cougars hit just 0.188 at the plate in the 3-0 and 11-3 losses.
Minnesota State 3, USF 0
Despite batting only 0.090 at the plate in the day's first game, USF stayed within striking distance. However, the Cougars were unable to close the gap on Minnesota State as USF had only one runner advance past first base in the entire game.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Mavericks took a one run lead when a Kelley Wood single brought in Lindsay Erickson.
Minnesota State added two insurance runs in the fifth inning which was highlighted by an Anna Cole Triple that allowed Samantha Holien to cross the plate giving MSU their final margin of victory with three runs.
Erin Scott was the lone Cougar player to record a hit in the first game as she recorded hits in both of her at bats.
Amanda Walters (17-7) was charged with the loss as she gave up three earned runs and seven hits in her six innings on the mound.
Coley Ries (19-3) picked up the shutout win for the Mavericks as she struck out 14 Cougar batters and gave up only two hits in seven innings of action.
The Cougars scored zero runs on two hits while committing zero errors.
Minnesota State 11, USF 3 (6 Innings)
The Cougars looked to pull the upset in game two as they trailed the Mavericks by only one run heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, but an offensive outburst by MSU ended the game after only six innings.
The Cougars struck first in game two when a double by Andrea Sheppard Kauwalu brought in Brooke Stetzler in the second inning.
Not looking to be outdone, the Mavericks put up two runs of their own when a triple by Emily Branksy brought in two runs.
After MSU put up two more runs in the fourth inning, USF closed the gap down to one run by scoring two runs in the fifth. First a Betsy Thomas single brought in Erin Scott to bring USF within one run of the Mavericks. Then in the next at bat, Bailey Bouman's lineout to leftfield made room for Shannon Daly to cross the plate.
USF seemed to be in good position against the Mavericks, trailing by one run heading into the bottom of the sixth, but a seven run inning effectively ended the Cougars hopes of an upset.
Erin Scott and Taylor Jonas both were effective at the plate in game two as they each went 2-of-3.
Bailey Bouman (10-5) picked up the loss for the Cougars as she gave up 13 hits and six earned runs in her time on the mound.
Minnesota State's Brittany Lauterbach (17-5) picked up the win as she gave up just two earned runs and seven hits in five innings pitching. Coley Ries also came back after game one to claim a save as she pitched one inning for MSU.
The Cougars recorded their three runs on seven hits while committing three errors.
USF will return to action on Saturday, April 26 when they square off with Northern State in Aberdeen, S.D. with first pitch of the doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.
