GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MARSHALL, Minn. – Northern State used a five-run second inning to pick up a 9-5 win in the second game of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball doubleheader over Southwest Minnesota State University on Sunday. SMSU won the opener 12-11, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for the win.

SMSU (21-19, 12-12 NSIC) is currently in eighth place in the NSIC standings heading into the final regular season games tomorrow. Northern State improved to 24-24, 13-11 in the NSIC after the split.

With the win in game two, Northern State snapped an 18-game losing streak to SMSU. SMSU had not lost to the Wolves since April 23, 2005.

SMSU celebrated “Senior Day” on Sunday honoring Christine Borowiak, Chelsey Evans, Kris Penick and Krista Steen.

Krista Steen finished the day going 5 for 7 at the plate, including a home run and three RBI. Christine Borowiak went 5 for 9 at the plate with a double and two RBI.

In game one, Northern State grabbed a 1-0 lead after half an inning before SMSU tacked on six runs in the home half of the inning to take a 6-1 lead. Borowiak opened the inning with a double to left center and scored on an RBI triple by Penick. Ashley Gigax, Shelbie Stoll, Morgan Peterson each drove in a run in the inning while Borowiak batted around and knocked in the sixth run of the inning on a single to left field.

Northern State cut the lead in half scoring two runs in the second inning and another in the third to come within three at 6-4.

The Wolves tied the game at six in the top of the fourth inning scoring two runs on three hits and an SMSU error.  

Stephanie Horkey came in to pitch for Northern State in the middle of the first inning and set down 12 straight batters before the Mustangs were able to get back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fifth inning from Amy Dreessen and Stoll to extend SMSU's lead to 7-6

Alysse Luttmann came in as a pinch runner for Dreessen and moved up to second base on a passed ball before Stoll delivered an RBI single to center field.

Steen stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second base and belted her first home run of the season over the left center field fence to give SMSU an 9-6 lead.

Northern State came up with five runs on five hits in the top of the seventh inning to take an 11-9 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning.

Dreessen started off the seventh with a single to left field and moved up to second base on a groundout by Stoll. Peterson then singled up the middle to score Dreessen to cut NSU's lead to 11-10. Katelyn Kalkman reached on a fielder's choice and Peterson was safe at second base on an error by the NSU shortstop. Borowiak then lined out sharply to third base for the second out of the inning.

Penick got on first on a fielder's choice to load the bases before Gigax reached on a fielder's choice allowing the game-winning run scored on the play. The shortstop fielded the ball and threw to third for the force-out. She threw the ball into the dugout allowing the tying and winning runs to score as SMSU would walk-off with the 12-11 win.

In game two, Northern State scored five runs in the top of the second inning grabbing an early 5-0 lead. With one out in the inning NSU got three straight singles to take a 1-0 lead. Caitlin Moran delivered the big blow with a three-run triple to left center. Moran scored the fifth run of the inning on a sacrifice bunt by Brooke Norris.

NSU extended its lead to 7-0 with two runs in the third inning on a two-run home run by Whitney Luhring.

SMSU scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to cut the score to 7-3. Borowiak scored on a groundout by Gigax before Steen singled up the middle to score Penick who singled earlier in the inning. Dreessen then doubled to right center to score Steen and Kaley Scearcy was thrown out at the plate on the play to end the inning.

NSU added a run in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Norris to extend its lead to 8-3.

SMSU came within three at 8-5 scoring two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning before the Wolves added another run in the top of the seventh inning to take the 9-5 lead and the win.

Chelsey Evans was tagged with the loss in game two falling to 12-6 on the season lasting just 1.1 innings allowing five runs and six hits.