In the first game, which was postponed Friday and finished Saturday because of weather, the Spartans used a complete game two-hitter from sophomore Lesley Noel to record a 3-1 victory.

But in game two, MSU's pitching and defense put the team in an early 5-2 hole.

Junior pitcher Rachel Turney gave up six hits and five runs in less than three innings of work. Two of the runs were unearned when a second-inning throwing error by sophomore Caitlin Mahoney, who plays third base, advanced two Minnesota base runners across the plate.

That's when the Spartans turned to their offense, taking a 7-5 lead with a five-run sixth inning, highlighted by Mahoney's two-run single. She also had a first-inning double that drove in two.

In the two-game series, Mahoney was 4-for-6 with seven RBIs to break out of a 1-for-32 slump.

"I just focused on my routine and just wanted to see a pitch that I could drive," Mahoney said of her sixth-inning single. "Whether you're 20-for-20 or 0-for-20, if you keep doing the same thing, it'll come."

The Golden Gophers got a solo home run in the sixth inning off freshman pitcher Megan Hair, but she recovered to retire the last five hitters and record the 7-6 win.

"I could not be more proud of both pitchers," Joseph said of Hair and Noel, who relieved Turney and gave up just one hit in more than an inning of work.

"Lesley Noel and Megan Hair competed and fought and showed great poise," Joseph said.

The two wins improve the Spartans' record to 22-10. After 32 games last season, the team's record sat at 11-20-1.

"Last year we were a very, very young team and we played a difficult schedule, and this year we have most of the kids back," Joseph said. "I think that experience is helping them understand what it takes to compete at this level."

Saturday's games also kicked off conference play for MSU as the team looks to have a winning record for the first time since 2003. Last season, the Spartans finished eighth in the Big Ten with a 7-9 record.

"I don't have expectations about where I finish," Joseph said. "I just want to feel like we're playing our best ball and if we win, we win, if we don't, we don't.

"I want to see our kids compete, and I think that's exactly what you saw this game."

Source: MSU Sports Information