Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

CROOKSTON, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team extended its winning streak to seven games with a doubleheader sweep of Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday afternoon in Crookston, Minn.  The  Mustangs won game one 15-3 and game two 11-3.

SMSU, in first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings, moves to 22-16 (14-2 NSIC), while UMC drops to 0-22 (0-14 NSIC).

In game one, a winless UMC squad found itself up 3-1 heading into the fifth inning, but SMSU, fresh off a victory over No. 23 Minnesota State, Mankato, turned on the offense in the top of the inning.

After a pair of singles got Amanda Voss and Meaghan Laetsch on base, Andrea Fennern drove in Micki Seibring, who was pinch running for Voss, from third.  Fennern made her way to second on a passed ball and eventually crossed the plate courtesy a UMC error for the second Mustang run of the inning.  Another Golden Eagle mishap allowed Jessica Paczosa to score the third and final SMSU run of the inning, putting the Mustangs up 4-1.

SMSU took down the Golden Eagles in order in the bottom half of the inning, including a pair of strikeouts from Mustang hurler Ali Honken, and proceeded to add another three runs to its lead in the sixth.

Another UMC error allowed two more SMSU runs to score.  Christine Borowiak drove in the last run of the inning for SMSU--this one after she doubled to score Paczosa, who had reached on that same error that allowed the first two Mustang runs of the inning.

UMC again went down in order in the bottom of the sixth--two of those  coming by way of Honken.  The Mustangs poured it on in the top of the seventh inning, scoring eight runs on eight hits.  Nicole Kelley ignited the surge when she sent a two-run homer over the fence.  Pacsoza then hit a two-RBI double that was followed by a Kristin Braden single that scored Paczosa.  Amanda Burkhart capped the inning with a three-run homer to make it 15-3.

SMSU retired UMC in order in the bottom half of the final inning.

On the mound, Honken went a complete game, giving up nine hits and striking out nine.  She improves to 6-5 on the season.

Burkart, Braden and Voss all finished 3 for 5 at the plate.  Burkhart led with four RBIs.

The Mustangs sent Sara Silke to the mound for game two of the twinbill.

Paczosa  led off for the Mustangs and did so with style, sending a solo shot, her first of the season, over the fence to give SMSU a 1-0 advantage.  Voss drew a walk with the bases loaded to score Braden to move SMSU's lead to 2-0 before the close of the inning.

Silke tossed a pair of strikeouts to quickly move the Mustangs to the top of the second.

Burkhart then notched another RBI for the day, singling to score Paczosa, who had walked two batters earlier.  Tucci drove in the second run of the inning for SMSU when she singled to score Braden from second.

Silke and the Mustangs gave up two run in the bottom of the second but still held a 4-2 lead.

Neither team managed a run in the third, but SMSU went to work with two outs in the top of the fourth.  Voss recorded the first hit of the inning when she doubled.  Laetsch then singled to score a pair of runs.  Leading 6-2, Fennern homered to tack on another two SMSU runs before the inning ended.

Honken entered the game to relieve Silke in the bottom of the fourth.  The duo didn't allow a hit in the inning.

The Mustangs added two more runs in the top of the fifth when Burkhart singled to score Braden, who had also singled earlier.  Voss drove in the other run of the inning on a sacrifice fly.

The Golden Eagles scored a run in the bottom half, but SMSU stretched its lead to 11-3 in the top of the sixth on another UMC error.

UMC went down in order in the bottom half of the final inning.

Silke went 3.2 innings in the circle to get the win and improve to 5-4 on the year.  She allowed two runs and two hits and struck out six.  Honken worked 2.1 innings in relief and gave up one run and two hits while striking out  a pair.

Burkhart, Laetsch and Fennern were all 2 for 4 and each collected two RBIs.

SMSU will play Minnesota State Moorhead tomorrow at 11 a.m. in Crookston, Minn.