Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
ST. PAUL, Minn. – Amanda Johnson tossed a pair of complete games to lead Southwest Minnesota State to sweep over Concordia University, St. Paul and help the Mustangs to their fourth straight Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference title and fifth in the last six years Tuesday night in St. Paul, Minn.
Amanda Burkhart hit her 16th home run of the season and Kristin Braden belted a solo shot of her own to lead SMSU to a 8-0, five-inning victory over CU in game one, and the Mustangs collected 17 hits to win game two--another five inning affair--10-0.
The conference crown now entitles the Mustangs to home-field advantage for this weekend's NSIC tournament. Pairings and game times will be announced on Wednesday afternoon.
SMSU finished the regular season to 29-19, 21-5 NSIC, while CU drops to 33-21, 15-9 NSIC.
Amanda Johnson was relentless in the circle for the Mustangs, tossing two complete games, striking out 17 CU batters and allowing just four hits. She retired the first twelve Golden Bears in game one and had a no hitter brewing heading into the final inning.
SMSU opened game one with a pair of runs when Meaghan Laetsch singled to center field to score Amanda Tucci and Kristin Braden.
Braden led off in the top of the third inning and added to the Mustang lead, using her solo home run to give SMSU a 3-0 advantage. Hits from #Amanda Voss, Jessica Paczosa and Andrea Fennern tacked on another four runs to extend SMSU's lead to 7-0 heading out of the inning.
Looking to implement the mercy rule and end the game after five innings, Burkhart stepped to the plate in what would be the final inning and lined a hard ball over the fence to lengthen the lead to eight for SMSU.
Johnson gave up her only two hits of the game in the bottom half of the fifth inning—those a pair of singles.
SMSU continued its offensive prowess in game two, christening the game with a three-run first inning. Singles from Tucci and Kiley Peterson drove in two runs, while Voss drew a walk to score the other.
Christine Borowiak doubled to left field in the top of the third inning and another Peterson single scored a pair runs to stretch the Mustang lead to 5-0.
But it was a five-run sixth inning that allowed SMSU to cut the second game short, too, and clinch the conference title.
