Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team picked up a doubleheader sweep of Mary and tacked on two more wins to its Northern Sun Intercollegiate record, defeating the Marauders 9-4 and 8-5 Friday afternoon at Mustang Field in Marshall, Minn.

SMSU improves to 12-14 (4-0 NSIC), while U-Mary drops to 6-21 (1-3 NSIC).

SMSU opened the game with a pair of runs, the first fueled by an Amanda Tucci single and that drove in Christine Borowiak from second base.  With the bases loaded and Amanda Voss at the plate, the freshman drew the walk and drove in another Mustang run to make it 2-0.

The Marauders evened the game at two runs each in the bottom of the third inning when Dre Brunskill doubled to score two.

It was a big fourth inning that allowed SMSU to take a commanding lead; the Mustangs scored four runs, one coming on a walk and the other two from a pair of hits by Amanda Burkhart and Kiley Peterson.

After a silent fifth-inning campaign by both squads, SMSU's Amanda Tucci nailed a three-run homer to drive in Burkhart and Kristin Braden, who had each reached on singles.

U-Mary collected two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but SMSU managed to hold of the Marauders and post the 9-4 victory.

Amanda Johnson picked up the win for the Mustangs, going a complete game and striking out 13.  She moves to 5-6 on the season.

In game two, the Marauders were the first to draw blood, posting a pair of runs in the opening inning to take a 2-0 lead that they held onto until the third inning.

Braden drove in the first run of the game for SMSU, doubling in the third inning to score Jessica Paczosa from second base.  Burkhart then hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Braden.

The Mustangs capitalized on a sloppy fourth inning by U-Mary, scoring two runs courtesy a Marauder error and another on a wild pitch.

The Marauders did answer with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but SMSU extended its lead with another three in the seventh inning.  Tucci drove in one run, but it was Nicole Kelley, pinch hitting for Meaghan Laetsch, who came up big,dropping in a two-out single to score a pair of runs.

U-Mary posted one run in the bottom of the seventh.

Ali Honken picked up her second win on the mound in as many days, working 6.0 innings and striking out five.  She improves to 2-4 on the season.

SMSU will travel St. Cloud State on Tuesday to face the Huskies in a 2 p.m. conference doubleheader.