BOX SCORE

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – No. 6 seed Minnesota Duluth (30-13) used a five-run first inning and a strong performance from starting pitcher Heather Stemper to defeat No. 6 seed Southwest Minnesota State (28-18) 6-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Stemper improved to 12-3 on the season tossing all seven inning striking out eight batters and walking just one. She was able to strand eight Mustang runners on base.

SMSU's Kris Penick was the only Mustang with multiple hits in the game. Penick was 3-for-4 at the plate and finished with her first career home run accounting for SMSU's only run of the game.

Ali Honken lasted just three batters in the game allowing three runs on three hits including a three-run home run that gave Minnesota Duluth an early lead. Honken was tagged with the loss in the game and is now 16-9 on the season.

Minnesota Duluth took an early 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a three-run home run by Ashley Johnson. Michaela Goris led off the inning with a bunt single and advanced to third on a double by Kierra Jeffers. Johnson then drilled a home run over the left field fence.

Chelsey Evans made her team-leading 14th relief appearance on the season. The Bulldogs would score two more runs taking a 5-0 lead. Tyra Kerr singled to third base before Evans Walked Gardner to put runners on first and second.

After a pop-out to the pitcher Mandy Matula reached base on an error scoring Gardner on the play. The Bulldogs would score one more run on a fielding error by the Mustangs taking a 5-0 lead after one inning of play.

UMD put together a threat in the second inning loading the bases on three hits. Jeffers lined out to Borowiak in right field and SMSU was able to double off Kylee Smith at second base on a 9-2-6 double play.

The Mustangs put together a threat in the top of the fourth inning eventually stranding two runners on base. With two outs in the inning, Katie Turner and Kaley Scearcy hit back-to-back singles with Turner moving up to third base on Scearcy's single. Stemper got Jennifer Johnson to fly out to center field.

Penick led off the fifth inning with her first career home run at SMSU. Penick slapped a fly ball over the center field fence to put the Mustangs on the board making the score 5-1. SMSU left two more runners on base in the fifth inning after Dreessen doubled and Steen was hit by a pitch. For the second inning in a row Stemper was able to get the third out stranding two Mustang runners on base.

After hitting a home run in the top of the inning, Penick took a home run away from the Bulldogs crashing through the left field fence robbing UMD's Carlie Schnoebelen of a home run.

Minnesota Duluth added a run in the top of the sixth inning taking a 6-1 lead.

Southwest Minnesota State will play the loser of the Concordia-St. Paul and Wayne State at 2 p.m. today at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls, S.D.