GAME 2 BOX

BISMARCK, N.D. - Southwest Minnesota State's 7-run sixth inning trumped the University of Mary 8-6 in game one of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Friday. UMary would blast a 3-run home run in the bottom of the seventh to win in walk-off fashion, 5-3 over SMSU in game two.

In game one, SMSU sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning and scored all seven of the runs with two outs. Morgan Peterson's two-RBI single to right field was the only RBI hit in the inning as SMSU recorded RBI walks and scored two runs on an error.

SMSU struck first, doing so without even getting a hit in the inning. The Mustangs would load the bases with Jennifer Johnson getting hit by a pitch and, Alysse Luttman and Shelbie Stoll drawing walks. Johnson would score on Katelyn Kalkman's fielder's choice that put SMSU up 1-0, but the one run was all SMSU could manage as Amy Dreessen lined out to left field to end the inning.

UMary would respond with back-to-back blows in the fourth and fifth inning. The blows came in the form of a 2-run home run by Brittney Hadley in the fourth inning and a 3-run bomb by Erin Keen in the fifth inning. The home runs ballooned the Marauder lead to 5-1.

After falling down 5-1 off of two big Marauder hits, SMSU spotted starting pitcher Rachel Hoeppner with a seven spot in the sixth inning, giving SMSU the lead back at 8-5. All seven runs were scored with two outs. SMSU sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, drawing four walks and three hits. An error by Kristin Ormsby extended the inning and allowed SMSU to tack on two additional runs.

Wasting no time after being spotted a 7-run sixth inning, Hoeppner silenced UMary's batters in the sixth and escaped a bases loaded jam in the seventh to secure her seventh win of the season. Hoeppner (7-5) pitched her fifth complete game of the season as she allowed six earned runs in seven innings.

In game two, despite striking out 14 times, SMSU led the entire way, up to the last inning when UMary blasted a 3-run walk-off home run to take the game 5-3 and split the twinbill.

SMSU finished with just four hits but put up three runs in the first and second innings. UMary would push across single runs in the second and third and the game would remaing a 3-2 until the seventh inning.

Katelyn Kalkman extended her 11-game hitting streak to 12 straight with a single in the top half of the seventh.