Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State senior Amanda Johnson tossed a two-hit shutout, throwing just 77 pitches, including 57 for strikes, to lead SMSU to a 2-0 conference victory over Wayne State in game one of a doubleheader in Marshall on Wednesday.  The Wildcats, however, rebounded to win game two 5-4.

SMSU moves to 25-17 (17-3 NSIC) and maintains its first-place status in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.  Wayne State is now 15-14 (15-4 NSIC) and stays in its second-place spot in the conference.

Johnson was dominant in the opening game, allowing just three base runners while recording eight strikeouts.  In the process, Johnson reached 1,000 career strikeouts becoming just the 15th player in NCAA Division II history to reach the milestone.

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning when the Mustangs finally broke through against WSC ace Katie Goetzinger.  With two outs in the inning, SMSU freshman Kristin Braden drilled a two-run double that scored Meaghan Laetsch and Andrea Fennern.

Braden led SMSU at the dish, going 1 for 3 with two RBIs.

Goetzinger finished the game allowing five hits, two runs, two walks, while striking out 12 SMSU hitters.

SMSU sent Ali Honken to the mound in game two; the sophomore tossed 4.0 innings and gave up four runs on four hits before Johnson entered in the fifth in a relief role.  Johnson was charged with the loss as she worked 3.0 innings and gave up five hits and one run--an unearned one.

Wayne State posted one run in the top of the first, but SMSU countered with a three-run surge in the bottom of the second.  Amanda Burkart sparked the burst with a double to right center.  She was quickly moved to third via an Amanda Tucci single.  Burkhart would score the next batter as she narrowly escaped a tag at home after Nicole Kelley reached on a fielder's choice.  Jessica Pacsoza drove in the last two Mustangs of the inning, using a single to score Kelley and Meaghan Laetsch, who had also singled earlier.

Both squads went down in order in the fourth.

The fifth inning proved to be the difference maker for WSC.  The Wildcats scored four runs on six hits to take a 5-4 lead.  The fifth run came on a Mustang error.

SMSU managed just one hit in the final two innings of play.

Goetzinger went to the circle for the Wildcats for the final two innings.  She allowed just one hit and got the save for WSC.

Burkhart finished 2 for 3 from the plate with an RBI.  Paczosa was 1 for 4 with two RBIs.

The split moves Johnson to 13-8 on the season.

Burkhart extended her single-season home run record as she recorded her 13th of the season.

SMSU will play host to Winona State and Upper Iowa this weekend.  SMSU and WSU will square off on Saturday at 12 p.m. in a doubleheader, while the Mustangs and UIU meet up on Sunday at 12 p.m. in a doubleheader.

Click here to view a photo gallery from Tuesday's games.