[Softball] Mavericks sweep Mustangs in season opener

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Minnesota State out-hit Mount Mercy and took both games of a season-opening softball doubleheader on Friday at the UNI-Dome.

The Mavericks scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the third en route to a 6-1 victory in the opener. Minnesota State finished with 10 hits, while the Mustangs could only muster four. Senior third baseman Jessica Magnuson had half of those in three at-bats. Junior right-hander Mariah Early (0-1) went the distance for Mount Mercy, allowing five earned runs on 10 hits while striking out two.

Minnesota State (2-0) pounded out 10 more hits and capitalized on four Mustang errors to win the nightcap, 10-2, in six innings. Magnuson's solo homer, Mount Mercy's only hit of the game, and an unearned run in the second inning gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead. The Mavericks answered with a run in the bottom of the second and five unearned runs on a pair of Mount Mercy errors in the third to break the game open. Junior righty Paige Lager (0-1) got the loss despite giving up just one earned run in three innings.

Mount Mercy (0-2) will be back in action again at the end of the month, traveling to Olathe, Kan., for the MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) Tournament on Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 26-27.