GAME 1 BOX SCORE
GAME 2 BOX SCORE

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team opened the 2012 season with two wins this afternoon in the Rebel Spring Games in Kissimmee, Fla. SMSU defeated Ferris State University (Mich.) 3-2 on a walk-off single by Amy Dreessen before picking up a 10-1 win over the University of Sciences (Pa.) in five innings.

In the opener, Amy Dreessen hit a two-out walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh inning to lift the Mustangs to a 3-2 win in its season opener.

Ferris State got on the board in the in the top of the fourth inning when Amy Dunleavy singled in Brittney Buti, who pinch ran for Chelsea Morris, who hit a one-out double down the right field line. The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the top of the fifth when Makenzi Peterson singled up the middle to score Michelle Tononi who reached on bunt single with one out in the inning. 

The Mustangs scored two runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at two. Christine Borowiak hit a leadoff double to the gap in right center before. After Borowiak stole third base, Kris Penick drove in SMSU's first run of the game on a sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 2-1.

With two outs and the bases empty, Krista Steen reached on an error and the next three batters walked to score Alysse Luttmann who pinch ran for Steen to tie the game.

The Mustangs got some help in the bottom of the seventh inning when Chelsey Rodenkirch and Ashley Gigax both reached on throwing errors. Dreessen stepped up to the plate in another big situation and delivered the game-winning single through the right side of the infield.

Chelsey Evans was the winning pitcher of the game throwing all seven innings allowing two runs, one earned, while finishing with two strikeouts. The victory marks the first career win for head coach Missy Bruggeman.

Ashley Gigax had a career day against the University of Sciences launching her first career home run and a career-high four RBIs. Freshman Rachel Hoeppner made her first career start for the Mustangs and tossed three innings allowing just one hit and walking one facing 11 batters. 

SMSU got on the board early scoring one run in the top of the first inning when Borowiak scored on a fielder's choice by Gigax. Borowiak stole second and third before scoring on the fielder's choice.

The Mustangs offense broke out in the top of the third inning scoring eight runs on seven hits. Gigax led off the inning with her first career home run to start the scoring flurry. Borowiak delivered the big hit in the inning with a 3-RBI double off the fence in left center field.

Freshman pitcher Rachel Hoeppner made her first career start against the University of Sciences. She pitched three innings allowing no runs and just one hit. Another freshman saw time in the circle when Rachel Groff came into the game in relief and threw two innings allowing two hits and one run with three strikeouts.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow morning taking on Lees-McRae (N.C.) at 10 a.m. C.S.T. before squaring off against 13th-ranked Saginaw Valley State (Mich.) at 12 p.m. C.S.T.