GAME 1 BOX | GAME 2 BOX

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State opened its home schedule today splitting a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with Minot State winning the opener 6-1 before dropping game two 6-3.

In the opener, SMSU (4-16, 1-3 NSIC) was led by Rachel Hoeppner, who tossed a complete game five-hitter with eight strikeouts, while allowing just one walk. Hoeppner (2-7) retired the last 11 batters of the game and 14 of the last 15 Minot State (14-8, 1-3 NSIC) batters she faced.

Jazmyne Neely led a season-high 13-hit attack for SMSU going 3 for 4 with three RBIs with a pair of doubles. Karmann Carroll collected three hits, while Elissa Reinsma and Kaley Scearcy each finished with two hits apiece to pace the Mustangs.

The Mustangs struck quickly in the home half of the first on an RBI double by Neely and a run-scoring single by Kailey Hanson. SMSU then extended the lead in the second inning on an RBI single by Scearcy, before Neely followed with a two-run single up the middle to make the score 5-0.

Hoeppner's only blemish in the game was a solo home run allowed to Jen Dixon – the NSIC preseason player of the year – with one out in the third inning. But following the homer, only one Beaver batter reached base the remainder of the game.

In game two, SMSU jumped to an early lead scoring two runs in the second inning. Scearcy led off the frame with a single and following two wild pitches scored on a fielder's choice. Neely would later score on a MISU error to give SMSU a 2-0 advantage.

The Mustangs would maintain the lead until the fourth when the Beavers used a two-out rally to take its first lead of the day. Trailing 2-1 with two outs and runners on second and third, MISU put together a pair of RBI singles, a walk and another single to score four more runs and build a 5-2 lead.

Minot State added a single run in the sixth, before SMSU answered in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI single by Carroll to cut the deficit to 6-3, but that's as close as the Mustangs could rally against Dixon. Dixon finished the game tossing all seven innings, allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits with two strikeouts and two walks.

Alex O'Connor (2-9) suffered the loss for SMSU in the circle tossing four innings and allowing five runs on seven hits with six walks and two strikeouts.

Southwest Minnesota State will conclude the weekend tomorrow afternoon hosting the University of Mary in a doubleheader with first pitch starting at 12.