MARYVILLE, Mo. – The No. 6-ranked Minnesota State University Mavericks spoiled the home opener for the Northwest Missouri State University softball team and its first-year head coach Naomi Tellez.
 
The Mavericks tallied a 9-1, five-inning victory in the first home game of Tellez's coaching career.
 
Minnesota State struck for three runs in the top of the first off Northwest starter Breck Dickey.
 
Northwest's Hannah Blackford reached on an error and eventually scored on a passed ball to tally the Bearcats's first run of the day in the bottom of the first.
 
MSU posted three more runs in the fourth to open up a 6-1 lead.
 
Northwest chipped away with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth to trim the lead to 6-3. Madison Friest lifted an RBI double to left center that plated Aubrey Griffith. Lauren Gray also doubled to the wall in left center to score Friest.
 
However, the Mavericks exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth to take an 11-3 lead.
 
Northwest was unable to generate another charge and took the 11-3 loss in five innings.
 
Dickey took the loss as she pitched 4 1/3 innings and gave up eight hits and nine runs (all earned). She struck out five and walked seven.
 
Christina Campbell pitched the final 2/3 of an inning. She allowed three hits and two unearned runs.