GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE
MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to rally from an 11-6 deficit and defeat Concordia University, St. Paul 12-11 in game one of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader Wednesday afternoon in Marshall. CU topped SMSU 8-6 in game two.
SMSU moves to 9-10 (2-2 NSIC), while CU is now 16-8 (4-2 NSIC).
Amy Dreessen keyed the game-one comeback, tying the game with a three-run, two-out double to knot the game at 11-11. She would advance to third on the throw on the play, putting herself in position to score the game-winning run.
Christine Borowiak coaxed a walk as the ensuing batter, and her fourth called ball from CU's Cassye McMahon hit the dirt and made its way to the backstop, allowing Dreessen to score.
Dreessen finished 2 for 4 with four RBIs, while
Krista Steen was also 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Both of Steen's hits were home runs--the first coming in the second inning and the second in the fifth.
Kiley Petersen, who was a perfect 3 for 3 at the dish, also connected for her first homer of the season in the fifth inning.
Katie Turner also collected two hits for the Mustangs.
The Mustangs and Golden Bears were tied 2-2 heading into the fourth inning, but CU poured in seven runs in the top of the fifth to take a comfortable 9-2 lead. SMSU nudged back with one run in the bottom half of the inning.
CU extended its lead to 11-2 with a pair of runs in the fifth, but SMSU home runs from Steen and Petersen in the bottom half of the frame drove in three runs to put the Mustangs within six.
Both squads were retired relatively quickly in the sixth, and the Mustangs took down the first three Golden Bear batters they saw for the first time in the game in the top of the seventh.
Trailing by six, SMSU needed just two hits to complete the rally.
Amanda Neumann was the first to get on base, reaching on an error by the CU second baseman after Steen lined out to shortstop. She would advance to second on a passed ball and was quickly moved to third on a Petersen single.
Turner then popped up to put two away. Two ensuing walks and a hit batter pushed in three Mustang runs before Dreessen made her way to the dish to deliver the game-tying double and eventual game-winning run.
Chelsey Evans picked up her first of the season in the circle for SMSU, working 3.2 innings and allowing four runs on four hits. She entered the contest in the fourth inning in relief of starter
Cortney Heim.
SMSU, though, couldn't complete such an impressive comeback in game two of the twinbill.
CU got three RBIs from Jamie Linboe to post the 8-6 win.
SMSU faced a 7-0 deficit heading into the fifth inning and found itself trailing just 7-5 after six innings of play.
The Golden Bears hit in a combined seven runs in the opening two innings and retired nine of SMSU's first 10 batters in the game.
Andrea Fennern finally registered SMSU's first hit of the game in the bottom of the third when she laid down a bunt single. The hit, however, didn't result in any momentum for the Mustangs.
Two innings later, Fennern would ignite a Mustang run after she doubled to push in SMSU's first run of the game.
Trailing 7-1, SMSU threatened to make another late surge in the sixth, scoring four runs on five hits. Singles from Dreessen, Borowiak, Turner, Petersen and Fennern anchored the spurt.
The Golden Bears added a run in the top of the seventh and were owners of an 8-5 lead as the Mustangs headed to the plate with hopes of again erasing a final-inning deficit.
Dreessen and
Amanda Neumann collected singles, but the Mustangs were only able to muster one run in the seventh.
Ali Honken took the loss for SMSU, giving up four runs on four hits. She tossed just a third of an inning before being relieved by Evans.
Lauren Smith also saw time in the circle for SMSU.
Fennern finished a perfect 3 for 3 with two RBIs to pace the Mustangs in game two.
SMSU continues this eight-game homestand this weekend, hosting Northern State on Saturday at 2 p.m. and Mary on Sunday at 12 p.m.
