MSU Rolls to Doubleheader Sweep at Space Coast Spring Games

MELBOURNE, Fla. – Minnesota State (12-10) had a successful day at The Space Coast Spring Games on Monday, March 16, first edging past Wayne State (6-8) with a tight 4-3 victory before soaring to a commanding 14-2 win over Saint Michael’s (1-5).

Game 1 | Minnesota State 4, Wayne State 3
In the opener against Wayne State, the game kicked off with a quiet start, as both teams were unable to convert early chances through the first two innings. MSU broke the silence in the third when Maddie Helin singled and later crossed home on Chloe Brandt’s single, putting the Mavericks up 1-0.

However, the Warriors answered back in the fourth, putting up three runs to snatch the 3-1 lead. The Mavericks clawed back, as Nyah Hulbert tripled and scored on Helin’s single, tightening the score to 3-2.

In the fifth inning, MSU reclaimed control. Ireland Broderick and Finley Anderson, both reaching base after being hit by pitches, were driven home by clutch Hannah Tong’s double, handing the Mavericks a 4-3 lead they would hold onto. With pitching taking the spotlight, neither team scored in the final two innings. Maddie Oetzmann was a force on the mound for the Mavericks, throwing a complete game over 7 innings to notch her sixth win, now standing at 6-3. Oetzmann scattered 8 hits, surrendered 3 earned runs, struck out 6, and issued just one walk.

Game 2 | Minnesota State 14, Saint Michael’s 2
In the second game against Saint Michael’s, the Mavericks jumped ahead early with Carly Kimmes leading off with a single, setting the stage for Tong and Gianna Lara to load the bases. Izzy Hycnar’s clutch single brought Kimmes home, and Broderick’s groundout to second allowed Tong to score, putting MSU up 2-0 after the first. The Mavericks widened their lead in the fourth with timely hits, extending the advantage to 4-0.

Saint Michael’s tried to rally in the fifth, closing the gap to 4-2, but MSU stood firm. The sixth inning was all Mavericks, as they unleashed a 10-run barrage, capped by a Lara homer, which fueled a scoring spree that left the Mavericks with a decisive 14-2 edge.

Freshman Jorey Fry was stellar on the mound, going 5 innings, allowing just 5 hits and 2 earned runs, while fanning 8. Lucy Porter sealed the deal with a scoreless 6th, giving up just a single hit and striking out 1.

Anderson shone with three hits, including a double, driving in two runs and scoring twice. Lara powered through with a homer and four hits, racking up four RBIs. Brandt added three hits and two RBIs, scoring twice herself.

Up next, Minnesota State faces Lewis on Tuesday, March 17, at 6:15 a.m. CT at the USSSA Space Coast Complex in Melbourne, Fla.