Box Score
EMPORIA, KAN.: The No. 12 Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs are eliminated from the NCAA Regional Tournament after suffering a 2-1, eight inning loss to Minnesota State University, Mankato.
SMSU finishes the season with an overall record of 39-12 after making its third straight NCAA Regional Tournament appearance
The Mustangs scored their first run in the third inning of an RBI single from Amanda Burkhart, scoring Erin Dickhausen who reached base on a walk to lead off the inning. The RBI marked Burkhart’s 44th of the season.
Minnesota State University, Mankato then tied it in the fifth after Natalie Spicer had an RBI single to left center to score Mallory Michel who reached base on a double.
In the top of seventh, the Mavericks made things interesting with a lead off single which was followed by a double one batter later to put runners on second and third with just one out. The Mustangs however held on as Dickhausen made an acrobatic foul ball catch behind the place and then Angie Rohne ended the inning catching a line drive at short stop.
In extra innings, the Mavs came out on top scoring the game winning run in the top eighth after a one out triple from Jess Anderson was drove in a batter later with an infield single. The Mustangs went three-up-three-down in the bottom of the eighth.
The Mustangs were held to just two hits in the game as Burkhart and Kristin Braden each had one.
SMSU’s Amanda Johnson suffered the loss on the mound after pitching eight innings with seven strikeouts while scattering seven hits. Johnson finishes the season with a 28-6 overall record.
Minnesota State, Mankato, with a record of 41-15, will advance to the losers bracket semifinals to face the winner of the Nebraska-Omaha vs. NW Missouri State game being played tonight at 9 p.m.