BOX SCORE

KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Southwest Minnesota State freshman pitcher Rachel Hoeppner tossed her first career shutout in a 1-0 win over 13th-ranked Saginaw Valley State on Monday afternoon in Kissimmee, Fla. Hoeppner finished the game allowing four hits while striking out three and walking just two batters in the complete game shutout.

SMSU has now won two games over Saginaw Valley State after defeating the Cardinals in the Rebel Spring Games last season as well. That was also the last time that SMSU defeated a ranked team, Saginaw was ranked 25th last season.

SVU's Jillian Williamson threw all seven innings for the Cardinals finishing with seven strikeouts while allowing just one run on two hits.

SMSU had a chance to get score the first run of the game in the top of the second inning but failed to push a run across. Chelsey Rodenkirch battled off six pitches before earning a walk. Amy Dreessen followed with a sharp single through the right side to put runners on the corners.

Morgan Peterson stepped to the plate and laid down a bunt and was called out on batter's interference for hitting the ball again while dropping her bat. Dreessen moved to second base on a passed ball but Katelyn Kalkman was called out on strikes to end the inning.

Hoeppner got herself out of a jam in the bottom of the fourth inning. SVU's Kailah Happ led off the inning with a double to the right field gap and was sacrificed to third base. Hoeppner got the next batter to foul out and after a walk got Randall to ground out to end the inning and end the threat.

Christine Borowiak led off the top of the sixth inning with a double to the fence in the left center field gap. After a strikeout, Ashley Gigax reached on an error by the second baseman and moved up to second base moving Borowiak to third.

The Mustangs then put on the squeeze play with Steen at the plate to score the game's first run and take a 1-0 lead. After the run scored, Steen was thrown out trying to take second base and Gigax was thrown out between third base and home to end the inning.

Hoeppner started off the bottom of the seventh inning striking out Kalie Burdick before Jenna Holmes singled through the left side of the infield. After a sacrifice bunt by the Cardinals to move a runner into scoring position at second base, Hoeppner got Devon Eley to ground out back to the circle for the final out of the game.

Southwest Minnesota State returns to action tomorrow morning taking on Ashland (Ohio) at 8 a.m. C.S.T before playing Holy Family (Pa.) at noon C.S.T.