BOX SCORE: Game 1 | Game 2

MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team dropped a pair of tough home games to Upper Iowa on a windy day in Marshall on Friday. The Peacocks took game one 2-1 and finished off the Mustangs in game two 7-3 to sweep the doubleheader.

Game 1 | UIU 2-1
SMSU had its chances early in the game but came up empty. SMSU had runners in scoring position with less than two outs in the first, third, fifth and seventh innings, but only came up with one run and left seven on base.

The start of the seventh inning looked like SMSU would tally a come-from-behind victory as the Mustangs got a leadoff walk from Kailey Hanson and Katelyn Kalkman followed with an infield single. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Chelsey Rodenkirch flied out to deep right, which allowed Hanson to move to third. With runners at the corners and one out, Hanson scored on a throwing error by the catcher but Kalkman was thrown out at third trying to advance all the way to third from first. Elissa Reinsma grounded out to end the game.

Rodenkirch led SMSU with two hits as she finished 2 for 4. Hanson went 1 for 2 with a run scored and a walk.

Rachel Hoeppner was tagged with the loss even though she was sharp throughout her seven innings of work. Hoeppner scattered nine hits over said seven innings and struck out two.   

Game 2 | UIU 7-3
SMSU was held to three hits by starting pitcher Brooke Redmond, who improved her season record to 11-10 by earning the win. Redmond threw seven complete innings allowing just three hits and two earned runs while walking one and striking out six. On the contrary, Alex O'Connor dropped to 4-13 overall on the season as UIU tagged the freshman for six runs – just two earned – on nine hits, one walk and one strikeout in five innings pitched. Hoeppner worked two innings of relief and allowed an unearned run on two hits.

Rodenkirch blasted her third home run of the season in the third inning to close the gap to a 4-3 deficit after UIU put three on the board in the top half. Rodenkirch finished 1 for 2 with two runs, a walk and a RBI. Karmann Carroll and Kalkman were the only other Mustangs to pick up hits for SMSU in the loss.

SMSU (11-26-1, 8-13-1) will conclude the 2014 home schedule tomorrow afternoon with a doubleheader versus No. 25 Winona State starting at 12 p.m. The twinbill will be the final home doubleheader for two Mustangs – Jennifer Johnson and Kaley Scearcy.