Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State put together a seven-run second inning in game one but allowed Upper Iowa to scores six unanswered runs in the first to innings of game two as the Mustangs and Peacocks split a late afternoon doubleheader at the Regional Event Center in Marshall on Sunday.  SMSU won game one 7-2, but UIU was an 8-4 winner in game two.

SMSU moves to 27-19 (19-5 NSIC), while UIU is now 22-20 (13-11 NSIC).

The Mustangs still hold the first-place spot in the latest Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings.

SMSU's seven-run second inning in game one came off four hits.  The high point of the inning was an Amanda Burkhart three-run homer that put the Mustangs up 7-0.  Two UIU errors in the inning helped the SMSU scoring cause.

The Peacocks scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning of a pair of solo home runs.

Amanda Johnson tossed a complete game, gave up five hits, and struckout 12 batters.

Christy Loan suffered the loss or UIU.

The Peacocks were looking to salvage the split in game two and wasted no time getting to work, collecting two runs on three hits in the opening inning.

SMSU went down in order in the bottom half of the inning, and UIU dropped another four runs on the Mustangs in the second inning.  A pair of those runs came off walks from SMSU hurler Sara Silke.  Ali Honken entered later in the inning to relieve Silke.

The Mustang offense, however, showed signs of life in the bottom of the third.  Jessica Paczosa jump started SMSU with a two-out double that was followed by a pair of walks to get Kristin Braden and Meaghan Laetsch on base.  The ever-reliable Burkhart then stepped to the plate and sent a single to center field to score a run.  Amand Tucci followed suite, slapping a single for herself to score another two runs to make it a 6-3 game.

Erin Benneck homered for UIU in the top of fourth to extend the Peacocks' lead to 7-3.

Amanda Voss answered in the bottom of the fourth, sending a solo shot to left center--her first of the year--to bring the Mustangs within four again.

Both clubs went down in order in the sixth inning.  But UIU extended its lead in the final inning when Casey Coon struck out swinging but managed to reach first as the ball took a wild path.  In the process, a Peacock runner crossed the plate and gave the visiting team an 8-4 advantage.

The Mustangs were retired in order in the bottom half.

Silke took the loss for SMSU and gave up five hits in 1.2 innings of work.  She allowed three earned runs.  Silke drops to 5-5 on the year.  Honken tossed 5.1 innings in relief and gave up two hits and a pair of runs.

Erica Maisto picked up the win for UIU.

SMSU will finish regular-season play on Wednesday when the Mustangs travel to Concordia-St. Paul for a 3 p.m. doubleheader.