BOX SCORE

MARHALL, Minn. – It took 16 innings for Southwest Minnesota State and Augustana (SD) to complete the first game of a doubleheader Tuesday afternoon in Marshall. Elizabeth Murray hit a solo home run to lead off the top of the 16th inning to break a 1-1 tie, leading Augustana (24-4, 5-0 NSIC) to a 2-1 victory over Southwest Minnesota State (15-10, 3-2 NSIC).

Southwest Minnesota State set school records in batters faced (61), most chances (67), putouts (48) and at bats (53). Ali Honken set a new record for innings pitched at SMSU throwing all 16 innings for the Mustangs. She passed Julie Carlson, who pitched 14 innings in a game during the 1990 season. Honken also set a new mark at SMSU for batters faced in a game (61).

The 16 innings played, marks the most since April 17, 1990 when SMSU and MSU Moorhead played a 14-inning game.

Honken and Augustana's Ashley Meyer battled in the circle for all 16 innings. Honken finished the game giving up seven hits and two runs, one earned while striking out 11 batters and walking just three. Meyer matched that going 16 innings allowing eight hits one earned run while striking out 13 batters and allowing two walks.

The teams played to a scoreless tie through five innings of play before Augustana got on the board in the top of the sixth inning. Brown began the inning with a single up the middle before being sacrificed to second on a bunt by Murray and scored on a throwing error by the Mustangs to take a 1-0 lead.

Southwest Minnesota State would answer in the home half of the seventh inning. With two outs in the inning, Christine Borowiak belted her team-leading sixth home run of the season down the right field line to even the score at one a piece.

That is where the score would stay for nine more innings of free softball. Honken and Meyer would carry the pitchers dual deep into the afternoon. The two would combine to give up just six hits the rest of the game, ending with Murray's home run in the top of the 16th inning.

The Mustangs came to the plate with the heart of the order set to hit. But Murray sent the Mustangs down in order to end the game.

Kris Penick was the only Mustang to deliver more than one hit in the game. The junior finished with three hits in seven at bats. Penick and Amy Dreessen tied a school record, which was set in 1975 for most at bats in a single game with seven. Five other Mustangs had six at bats this afternoon.

The two teams began play in the second game of the doubleheader before play was suspended due to darkness after the completion of three innings.

Augustana jumped out to an early lead in the second game scoring a run in the first, two in the second before adding anther in the top half of the third inning to take a 4-0 lead.

The game will be re-scheduled and made up on a later date yet to be determined.

The Mustangs are scheduled to play Minnesota, Crookston on Saturday, April 9 in Crookston beginning at noon before playing MSU Moorhead at noon on Sunday. Due to field conditions it is not certain on the times or locations of these particular games.

Be sure to log on to www.SMSUmustangs.com for the latest updates and schedule changes for the SMSU softball team.