MARSHALL, MINN.: The Southwest Minnesota State softball team scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win 6-5 over Mary on Sunday at the NSIC Tournament.  The win advances SMSU to the championship games against Winona State at 4 p.m.  The Mustangs must defeated WSU twice as the Warriors are undefeated in the tournament so far.

Meaghan Laetsch drilled a two-out, two-run single to right to score Andrea Fennern and Emily Theno to tie the game at 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth.  Laetsch scored one batter later to give SMSU the lead on a single by Amanda Tucci.

The Mustangs trailed 5-1 in the third inning after the Marauders scored four runs on six hits in the top of the inning.

Southwest crawled back with two in the fifth.  Amanda Burkhart drove in Fennern with a fielder's choice with one out.  Fennern got caught in a run down between third and home, but beat the Mary third baseman to the plate to score the run.  SMSU cut the lead to 5-3 with a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Nicole Kelley that scored Erin Dickhausen.

Amanda Johnson earned the victory on the mound, pitching the final five innings of the game and allowing just one run.

Burkhart and Tucci each had three of SMSU's 12 hits, while Laetsch and Fennern had two more apiece.