The nationally-ranked Saint Anselm College softball program lost to Minnesota State University – Mankato, 7-2, on Saturday afternoon.

The Hawks, who are ranked number one in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, fall to 6-2 on the year. The Mavericks, who won the 2017 Division II national championship, improve to 5-5.

A four-run fourth inning was the difference in the game as Minnesota State took advantage of three errors to take a commanding 5-1 lead.

A homer to left center by Amber Kral started the inning for the Mavericks. A single by Hannah Hastings followed the long ball and a pinch-runner came in and scored on an error two batters later, before yet another error made it 3-1. Haylee Bridges scored the fourth run of the inning on a passed ball.

The Hawks struck first in the second inning. Junior Maggie Murphy (Scarborough, Maine) scored after freshman Kylie Fitzpatrick (Danville, N.H.) reached on a one-out error.

The Mavericks tied the game in the third inning on a RBI single by McKenzie Paap. Saint Anselm cut the lead in half in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by senior Jordan O'Connor (New Fairfield, Conn.) but Minnesota State scored two more in the bottom of the fifth to regain a five-run advantage.

Julia Bastian got the win for the Mavericks, going six full innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on seven hits and a walk. She also had a strikeout. Mackenzie Ward picked up the save with one inning of relief.

Junior Morgan Perry (Bethany, Conn.) suffered the loss for Saint Anselm in the circle. She allowed two runs on four hits and had a pair of strikeouts. Sophomore Courtney Fisher (Taunton, Mass.) pitched an inning in relief for the Hawks while freshman McKenna Smith (Old Town, Maine) went two innings.

Junior Erin Thompson (Newton, N.H.) and sophomore Lauren Washburn (Carmichael, Calif.) each had a pair of hits to lead the Hawks offense.

Saint Anselm plays LIU Post in a double-header on Sunday, Mar. 3, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in Kissimmee, Fla. The Hawks defeated the Pioneers in last season's NCAA Super Regionals.

Opening Split

The Hawk split the first two games of its trip to Florida. The Hawks dropped their opening contest to Davenport University, 6-3, before defeating the University of Missouri-St. Louis 8-1 in the second contest of the day.

The Hawks, who entered the day ranked first in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches' Association (NFCA) Division II Top 25 poll, improve to 6-1 on the year. They became the first-ever varsity program at Saint Anselm to earn a number one ranking.

In the opener, Davenport (5-8) broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning to take the first game thanks to a two-run double by Alexa Flores.

In game two, the Hawks scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back, cruising to the 8-1 final against the Tritons (5-11). Sophomore pitcher Courtney Fisher (Taunton, Mass.) went the distance, allowing just one earned run on six hits while striking out three batters and issuing zero walks. Senior Jordan O'Connor (New Fairfield, Conn.) and sophomore Kat Stackrow (Wynantskill, N.Y.) each drove in two runs in the game.

Davenport 6, No. 1 Saint Anselm 3 | Box Score

The Panthers broke a 2-2 tie in the sixth inning with a two-run double by Flores. The first batter reached on a single to start the inning, before the next reached on an error. Both runners moved to second and third on passed ball, before Flores doubled to right field to put Davenport up 4-2.

Replay | Saint Anselm vs Davenport

The Hawks struck for a pair of runs in the first inning. After loading the bases with the first three batters of the inning, sophomore Maddison Leite (Cumberland, R.I.) reached on an infield single, scoring junior Maggie Murphy (Scarborough, Maine). Junior Erin Thompson (Newton, N.H.) came around to score on a squeeze play executed by O'Connor to make it 2-0 in favor of Saint Anselm.

The Panthers cut the lead in half on a solo home run in the top of the second as Abby Merice sent a ball to center field.

The Hawks escaped a jam in the third inning but the Panthers got the tying run using the long ball again in the fourth. Flores led off the inning with a home run to center to make it 2-2.

Mallory Teunissen settled down after the first inning for Davenport. She silenced the Hawks bats, retiring 13-straight batters after a two-out single in the second. 

After the Panthers added two runs in the seventh to build a 6-2 lead, O'Connor hit the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the seventh over the wall, cutting the lead in half.

Junior pitcher Morgan Perry (Bethany, Conn.) suffered her first loss of the season. She went five innings, allowing four runs (three earned), on seven hits while striking out three batters. Teunissen picked up the win for the Panthers, striking out six batters and allowing three runs over seven innings.

No. 1 Saint Anselm 8, Missouri – St. Louis 1 | Box Score

Just like in the opening game, the Hawks scored in the first inning. After loading the bases with a single and a pair of walks, the Hawks took a 2-0 lead on a two-out single by O'Connor to plate junior Shannon Colson (Rochester, N.H.) and Thompson. Sophomore Lauren Washburn (Carmichael, Calif.) drove in a run of her own with a single to center field for a 3-0 Saint Anselm lead.

Replay | Saint Anselm vs Missouri - St. Louis

The Tritons scored their lone run in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of an error. With one out and the bases loaded, Lizzy Miller lined a ball to center field to make it 3-1 in favor of the Hawks.

That was the only blemish that Fisher had on the day as she only allowed three hits for the rest of the game.

Saint Anselm added two runs in the fourth and three runs in the seventh to take an 8-1 lead. In the fourth inning, the bases were loaded again with one out and Leite was walked on five pitches to make it 4-1 before Colson came around to score to make it 5-1. 

Stackrow added a pair of runs in the seventh, driving in Murphy and O'Connor with a one-out double, before scoring on a sacrifice fly by freshman Bailey Cain (Wellington, Fla.). Tiffee Andee took the loss, scattering five runs on seven hits and seven strikeouts. She also issued four walks.

www.saintanselmhawks.com