SMSU Squeaks Past Missouri Western in 11-Inning Marathon

Box Score

OMAHA, NEB.: Amanda Burkhart laced a single to center to score Erin Dickhausen with no outs in the bottom of the 11th inning to send SMSU home with a 4-3 win over Missouri Western on Sunday morning at the Nebraska-Omaha Classic. It was Southwest's first lead of the game.

Amanda Johnson pitched all 11 innings on the mound, allowing just five hits, while striking out 11. Her 11 innings pitched tied the school record for innings pitched in a single game that she already shared with Amber Goodell, who originally set the record against St. Cloud State on Mar. 31, 2005.

Jessica Paczosa, Amanda Burkhart and Amanda Opatz each had two hits for the Mustangs.

Missouri Western led 2-0 after scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the third inning. Southwest answered with one run in the bottom of the inning after Andrea Fennern reached on a one-out double and later scored on a single up the middle by Meaghan Laetsch.

SMSU tied the game in the sixth. With one out, Burkhart reached on a throwing error and advanced to third on a double by Opatz. Amanda Tucci drove in the tying run with a sacrifice fly to center.

With the international tiebreaker rule taking effect in extra innings, each team scored an unearned run in the eighth inning on sacrifice flies. Opatz drove in Laetsch for SMSU's run.

Johnson was in control on the mound, retiring 15 of the final 16 batters she faced to set up the winning run for Southwest. Dickhausen was placed on second to start the 11th inning. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, she came home on Burkhart's base hit to send the Mustangs home with the win.

SMSU is now 4-0 at the UNO Classic and 14-6 overall on the season. It plays the host team, Nebraska-Omaha following the first game.

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