Box Score
 
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Southwest Minnesota State softball team scored early to defeat Northern State 5-3 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference / US Bank Tournament at Sherman Park on Friday morning.
 
SMSU improves to 27-28 overall and will face Minnesota State at 2 p.m. on Friday.
 
The Mustangs scored first in the opening frame as Katelyn Kalkman stole home on a double steal attempt to put SMSU up 1-0 early.
 
Elissa Reinsma hit a single down the right field line and advanced to third from an error, while bringing Erica Downing around to score in the second inning. Alysse Luttmann followed with a sac fly to score Reinsma and give the Mustangs a 3-0 lead.
 
The Wolves cut the lead down after a home run in the second made the score 3-1.
 
In the third, Karmann Carroll singled to center field with two outs and was followed by Taylor Koloc with a single down the left field line to move Carroll to second. Downing followed suit and singled to center field that scored Karmann Carroll to push the lead to 4-1.
 
Luttmann added an insurance run in the top of the seventh after she homered to center field—second of the season—to give the Mustangs a 5-1 lead going into the final half inning.
 
NSU tried to make a comeback in the final frame after a two-run home run to right field with two outs to cut the lead to 5-3. Alex O'Connor shut down the rally by striking out the next batter.
 
O'Connor (19-17) pitched the complete game giving up six hits and three runs, while striking out four and walking two batters.
 
Luttmann led the Mustangs finishing 2 for 3 from the plate with one run scored and two RBIs, while Downing finished 1 for 2 with a run scored and an RBI.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will face Minnesota State at 2 p.m.