The Free Press
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Minnesota State survived a late rally to defeat Southwest Minnesota State 68-67 in the semifinals of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference men’s basketball tournament Monday at The Pentagon.
The top-seeded Mavericks led by 10 early and stretched that to a 34-21 margin by halftime. The Mavericks limited Southwest to 26.7% shooting.
Kyreese Willingham had 12 points in the first half, and Justin Eagins added 10 points, with each hitting two 3-pointers.
The lead grew to 16 early in the second half, but the Mustangs used a 12-0 run to get back in the game.
The Mavericks led 56-50 midway through the second half when Malik Willingham had consecutive baskets to start a 7-0 run. However, Southwest made a 12-0 run to tie the game at 65 with 50 seconds to play.
Eagins hit a 3-pointer to put Minnesota State back ahead, but the Mustangs scored on a layup. Minnesota State had a turnover on its final possession, but the Mustangs also committed a turnover at the buzzer.
Kyreese Willingham and Eagins each finished with 18 points, and Malik Willingham had 14 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Mavericks made 12 3-pointers.
The Mavericks (28-2) play Minnesota Duluth in the championship game Tuesday at Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Minnesota Duluth, the No. 2 seed, defeated Winona State 90-76.
Women’s basketball: The top-seeded Mavericks pulled away in the fourth quarter in a 88-72 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the semifinals of the Northern Sun tournament at The Pentagon.
Minnesota State started the game with a 13-3 run, but the Mustangs briefly led in the second quarter before the half ended with the Mavericks up 48-46. Minnesota State outscored the Mustangs 21-11 in the fourth quarter.
Joey Batt led the Mavericks with 26 points on 12 of 18 shooting. Destinee Bursch had 22 points, six assists and three steals, and Natalie Bremer added 11 points and four rebounds. Ava Stier finished with nine points and seven rebounds, and Hannah Herzig added eight points and six steals.
Minnesota State made 16 steals and shot 47.4% from the field.
The Mavericks (25-5) will play Mary in the championship game Tuesday.
Baseball: Nick Baker had a two-run single in the Mavericks’ 5-2 loss to Northwood University at Davenport, Florida.
Zach Stroh had a double and scored a run.
Spencer Wright took the loss, allowing five earned runs in five innings.
The Mavericks (5-8) play Northwood again Tuesday at Davenport, Florida.
Softball: Maddie Oetzmann pitched a no-hitter through seven innings in a 3-2 victory in eight innings over Ashland at The Spring Games at Winterhaven, Florida.
Oetzmann ended up pitching 7 2/3 innings, striking out four. Sophia Del Vecchio earned her first save as she got the final out.
Gianna Lara hit a three-run homer in the top of the eighth inning before Ashland scored twice in the final at-bat, leaving the tying run at first base.
The Mavericks then lost 3-0 to Grand Valley State. McKayla Armbruster allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings while striking out three.
Rhyan Fritz and Courtney Kessler recorded doubles.
Minnesota State (16-4) plays Edinboro and Clarion on Tuesday at Winterhaven, Florida.
Men’s golf: Minnesota State shot 304 and sits in sixth place after the first round of the Maverick Desert Classic at Goodyear, Arizona.
Missouri Sciences & Technology leads at 284, led by Carl Miltun at five-under 67.
Minnesota State’s Hogan Ordal, playing as an individual, shot 72 and is tied with seven others.
Karson Patton shot 73 and is tied for 10th, and Ben Laffen shot 75.
The two-day, 36-hole event concludes Tuesday.
Bethany Lutheran
Softball: The Vikings split games on their spring trip, losing 6-5 to Calvin and defeating Marietta 8-2 at Clermont, Florida.
In the first game, Kayla Senne allowed just one earned run in six innings with seven strikeouts. Kaija Mork had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored, and Ana Christofferson, Sydney Jacobs and Elizabeth Cizek each had two hits.
Against Marietta, Emily Nelson had two hits and three RBIs, and Haley Stockman and Christofferson each had two hits.
Senne pitched a complete game, allowing five hits with eight strikeouts.
Bethany (6-6) will play Dominican and Aurora on Wednesday.
Baseball: The Vikings fell 10-0 in a nonconference game to Puget Sound at Tacoma, Washington.
Josh Robb had a walk and a double for the Vikings, and Malachi Santiago also hit a double.
Bethany (2-2) plays Willamette University Tuesday at Salem, Oregon.
Gustavus Adolphus
Baseball: The Gusties collected 24 hits and defeated Concordia (Wis.) 9-4 and 17-4 at Tucson, Arizona.
In the opener, Gavin Baker had two hits and three RBIs, and Brady Schmitz added two hits and an RBI.
Mitch Casperson allowed two earned runs in four innings to get the win. Jackson Thelen pitched three innings to get the save.
Concordia scored three runs in the top of the first inning in Game 2, but the Gusties responded.
Baker was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Tomas Nelson had four RBIs, and Isaac Becker had three RBIs. Luke Siegle was the winning pitcher, giving up four earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts in four innings.
Gustavus continues play at the Tucson Invite on Tuesday morning with a single game against Wheaton.