ST. CLOUD, Minn. — A six-run third inning and a strong pitching performance by sophomore Tori White helped the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team earn an 8-2 win over St. Cloud State in Game 2 on Tuesday in St. Cloud, Minn. The win gave MSUM a split on the day as the Huskies prevailed 9-1 in five innings in Game 1

MSUM is now 11-19 overall and 4-8 in the NSIC while St. Cloud State is 26-15 overall and 12-8 in the league.

The Dragons had 12 hits in Game 2, including nine hits in the decisive six-run third inning, with all six runs scoring . They spread the hitting around with eight players recorded at least one hit and four players recording two hits. Senior center fielder Aunica Novacek was 2-for-3 with an RBI while sophomore third baseman Emma Dummer was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI and a run scored. Sophomore outfielder Madison Paige and junior shortstop Taylor Roddie were each 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Roddie had a double. Freshman Ashley McCance was 1-for-4 with two RBI while freshman outfielder Elizabeth Johnson was 1-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Junior second baseman Lexie Kennedy was 1-for-4 with two RBI while Payton Gaber was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Sophomore Tori White got the win, giving up just one earned run in seven innings. She allowed five hits, walking four while striking out four.

"We made adjustments at the plate in the second game and were able to make solid contact. The huge six-run inning helped us," said MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl, who picked up her 100th career win. "Tori threw a great game."

With a scoreless tie going into the third, the Dragon offense got going. With one out, Dummer doubled and one out later, scored on Johnson's RBI single. McCance followed with a two-run homer — her team-best fourth of the season — to make it 3-0. Roddie,Kennedy and Dummer added RBI single to make it 6-0.

SCSU cut the lead to 6-2 but MSUM answered in the fifth as Kennedy and Novacek drove in runs to make it 8-2.

In the opener, MSUM led 1-0 in the top of the first after a Paige RBI single scored Johnson, who had singled to lead off the game.

Kennedy had a double while Johnson was 1-for-3 with a run scored. Paige was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Ashley McCance was 1-for-1 and also had a sacrifice bunt to set up a run.

SCSU scored nine unanswered runs — keyed by a grand slam by Haley McFarlane in the second — on its way to the win.

Becky Berth took the loss, giving up nine runs (six earned) in 4.1 innings. She struck out three and walked four.

MSUM hosts Minnesota State, Mankato at noon on Saturday at Scheels Field.