Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State got a pair of home runs from Amanda Tucci and another from Amanda Burkhart as the Mustangs split a conference doubleheader with No 8 Winona State Saturday afternoon in Marshall.  SMSU posted a 2-1 victory in game one, but the Warriors countered with a 9-7 win in game two of the twinbill.

SMSU moves to 26-18 (18-4 NSIC) and retains its hold on first place in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings.   WSU is now 36-11 (16-6 NSIC).

Burkhart's two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning of game one broke a 0-0 tie and put the Mustangs up 2-0.  The homer also set an SMSU single-season record for RBIs as the senior recorded her 47th of the season.

Offenses for both squads stayed idle until the top of the seventh when WSU's Kathy Crudo also homered to bring the Warriors within one.  WSU's next two batters, however, flied out to give SMSU the 2-1 victory.

Amanda Johnson worked a complete game on the mound for SMSU, allowing five hits and fanning seven batters.

Stacey Struzynski suffered the loss for WSU.

Kristin Braden and Meaghan Laetsch also had a hit for SMSU.

The Warriors regrouped and got their bats going in game two, jumping out to a 5-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.

Ali Honken started on the mound for SMSU, but was replaced by Sara Silke in the second.

Leading off, Tucci cashed in a deep ball in the bottom half of the inning to begin what would turn into seven unanswered runs for SMSU in the next three innings.

Tucci, however, wasn't done yet; in the ensuing inning, the senior, with the bases loaded, took the first pitch she saw and sent it long to notch her second homer of the day and knot the game at 5-5.

WSU had a chance to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning, but with two outs the Warriors' Jenny Wilmes made a move to score off an Amanda Wilhelm hit and was gunned down by Laetsch's throw from left field.  The WSU go-ahead run was tagged out by Amanda Voss at home.

SMSU eventually took the lead in the fifth when Laetsch dropped in a single to center field to score two runs and give the Mustangs a 7-5 advantage.

Johnson went to the circle in the sixth inning with runners on first and second and two outs.  She walked the first batter after holding a 0-2 count to juice the bases.  Wilhelm then stepped to the plate and hit a three-run double to give the Warriors a 8-7 lead.

Alex Chichila went to the mound for WSU in the sixth and struckout three Mustang batters to retain the one-run lead.

Kathy Crudo added some security to the Warrior lead in the final inning of play as she belted a solo shot to give WSU a 9-7 lead.

SMSU managed two hits in the bottom half of the inning, but a trio of strikeouts from Struzynski, who had just entered the game, sealed the Warrior victory.

Chichilla picked up for the win for WSU, while Struzynski was credited with the save.

Johnson suffered the loss for SMSU.  She moves to 14-9 on the season.

The Mustang pitching staff struck out just four batters between the three of them.

Tucci finished 2 for 2 at the plate with five RBIs.  Braden was 3 for 5.

SMSU will host Upper Iowa tomorrow at 12 p.m. in another conference doubleheader.

Click here to view a photo gallery from Saturday's doubleheader.