NSU-SMSU BOX SCORE
WSC-SMSU BOX SCORE

WAYNE, Neb. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team split a pair of non-conference games on Saturday afternoon in Wayne, Neb. SMSU (9-5) began the day with a 9-0 win over Northern State (7-11) in five innings before giving up a six-run lead, falling 11-7 to Wayne State (Neb.) (9-7).

SMSU grabbed a 7-1 lead after two innings before Wayne State scored three runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to earn the victory. Chelsey Evans (4-1) was tagged with the loss, marking her first of the season. She allowed 10 runs, all earned while walking three and striking out one batter.

SMSU and Wayne State each finished the game with 12 hits, but the Mustangs left 11 runners on base in the game while Wayne State left just five.

SMSU freshman pitcher Rachel Groff earned her first career win tossing five shutout innings in a 9-0 five-inning win over Northern State in non-conference action in Wayne, Neb. on Saturday afternoon. Groff held NSU hitless through three full innings and allowed just two in the game, finishing with five strikeouts.

SMSU grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning when freshman Shelbie Stoll belted her first career home run over the center field fence.

The Mustangs added three runs in the third and fourth innings before tacking on another in the fifth to win by the eight-run rule in five innings. SMSU finished the game with 12 hits, with four players coming up with two hits apiece.

SMSU scored its fourth run of the game when Krista Steen scored on a wild pitch. Stoll then grounded out to second base but Dreessen scored on the play to put SMSU up 4-0. Kaley Scearcy then delivered an RBI single through the left side of the infield to make the score 5-0 in favor of SMSU.

Kris Penick started the top of the fourth inning with a bunt single and eventually scored on a wild pitch. Amy Dreessen came to the plate with Ashley Gigax, who reached on a single on second base, and traded places with her delivering an RBI double to left center field to put SMSU up 7-0. Dreessen later scored on a double by Kaley Scearcy to give the Mustangs an 8-0 lead.

Christine Borowiak drilled her first home run of the season to lead off the fifth inning and Groff set down the Wolves in order in the bottom of the fifth for her first win of the season. 

In game two, SMSU jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning when Ashley Gigax hit a three-run home run to right center for her second round-tripper of the season. Wayne State made the score 3-1 after a solo home run by Dani Sandel in the home half of the inning. 

The Mustangs extended their lead to 7-1 in the top of the second inning scoring four runs on six hits. Katelyn Kalkman began the inning with double down the left field line and moved to third on a bunt single by Penick. RBI hits by Gigax, Steen, Dreessen and Stoll pushed four runs across in the inning to extend SMSU's lead to six.

Wayne State scored three runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to take a 10-7 lead before adding another run in the sixth for an 11-7 lead. SMSU had three runners stranded on base in the last two innings of the game failing to push a run across the plate.

Gigax matched her career-high with four RBIs in the game finishing the game 2 for 5 at the plate. Penick and Steen each had three hits for SMSU against Wayne State.

SMSU returns to action on Wednesday, March 21, with a non-conference doubleheader with Wayne State in Wayne, Neb. beginning at 2 p.m.