The Mankato Habaneros used a six-run first inning Monday night to upend Minot 8-5 in Game 1 of a crucial Northwoods League softball doubleheader at ISG Field.

Mankato fell to the Honeybees 11-4 in Game 2 of the doubleheader.

Mankato’s victory snapped a three-game losing skid. After closing out the doubleheader, the Habaneros begin a three-game series at Minot Wednesday.

“A big thing we always talk about is energy and momentum,” Mankato coach Justine Schultz said after Game 1. “We were able to get that energy and momentum going right away when we put up those six runs. You don’t see three-ground rule doubles in one inning very often so we were kind of laughing that we might have scored more if the fences were a little deeper and a bit higher.

“Our pitching needs to keep doing what they’re doing and trust our defense behind them. We need to keep making plays, but the big thing for us is to keep getting runners on base and moving them around. We’ve been struggling a little bit with that, but we kind of found that today.”

Mankato tallied its six runs in the first behind a trio of ground-rule doubles — DH Alyssa Herrera (California), first baseman Indigo Fish (Winona State) and pitcher Alexis Michon (Trine University) — along with four base on balls and a two-run throwing error. Herrera and Michon collected two hits apiece for the winners while Fish and third baseman Brook Holmes (St. Cloud State) contributed one hit each.

“Knowing that we need to beat them if we’re going to make the tournament gave me more confidence and energy,” Michon, who allowed three runs over five innings while striking out one and walking three, said. “I got a little tired out there because I wasn’t feeling my best, but Emily Meyer backed me up and had my back when I got tired.

“I felt overall, today was a strong day for us. I really enjoy hitting up here because I didn’t hit much in college so being able to swing the bat is nice. It’s nice to have a coach that is confident in you and thinks you’re going to get a hit. Holding them down was important because once they start scoring runs they tend to keep going. The fast start allowed us to stay ahead even if we gave up a few runs. … Every single player on this team can help, so we have to keep having that team effort.”

Holmes and Herrera singled in the second frame to set up catcher Skylinn Pogue’s RBI fielder’s choice. After Chloe Cummings’ two-run double sparked a three-run fourth-inning for the Honeybees, Michon’s lead-off single an inning later, along with an error and second baseman Brylee Hempey’s RBI infield out, made it 8-3.

“I’ve been here for about three weeks and I think the league is great,” Herrera said. “I was a little hesitant at first because I didn’t know if I could jump in half through the season, but I love it here so far. This win was very important because it gives us some momentum and if we can continue that into the next game it could be very powerful for us.

“Things are going well for me and I am going to continue to try my best. It depends a lot on the situation but sometimes you have to get lucky. I try to make adjustments and keep it simple. I love all the girls because they’re so much fun to be around.”