BOX SCORE: Game 1 | Game 2

MARSHALL, Minn. - Southwest Minnesota State used a seven-run fifth inning to rally down from 4-0 to take a 7-5 decision over St. Cloud State in game one of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate twinbill from Mustang Field in Marshall. The two teams tied in game two in a 15-inning marathon that was called due to darkness after three hours and 18 minutes of play. The game was the second longest in SMSU history.

GAME 1 | SMSU 7-5
SMSU scored all seven of its runs in the fifth inning on five hits and an error.

SCSU struck first in the top of the second with a RBI double to deep left center by Kelsie Fitch. The double scored Breana Canova who singled to lead off the inning and was moved into scoring position by Rebecca Harps' successful sacrifice bunt.

SMSU tied the game at four in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back hard hits from Kaley Scearcy and Jazmyne Neely. Each hit scored two runs – Scearcy a two-run single up the middle and Neely's a two-run double to centerfield. Kendra Merritt came in on relief and inherited runners on the corner. Karmann Carroll plated the go-ahead run with a suicide squeeze that turned into a RBI bunt single for Carroll who placed the ball between the shortstop and pitcher and beat out the throw. Alysse Luttmann followed with an infield single with two outs to score the sixth run of the inning. SMSU scored its final run of the inning as Carroll stole home before Luttmann was picked off between first and second. SMSU scored all seven of its runs in the big inning and it was enough to carry them to a7-5 victory in game one.

Alex O'Connor (3-10) picked up the win in her three innings of relief. Scearcy and Neely each finished with two RBIs and a run scored. Scearcy led SMSU with two hits.

GAME 2 | Tie 1-1
Game two ended in a tie as the three hour and 18 minute marathon was called after the 15^th inning due to darkness. Rachel Hoeppner was extraordinary for the Mustangs as she pitched all 15 innings and racked up 11 strikeouts – both career highs. Her 15 innings pitched ranks second most in SMSU single-game history -- only bested by Alina Honken's 16 innings of work in SMSU's longest game in history logged in 2011.

The 15-inning game was the second longest in school history beating out 1990's 14-inning game but just one inning short of the record-setting 16-inning affair versus Augustana in 2011.

Hoeppner carried a no-hitter through four innings even though the Huskies were able to cross a run in the second inning. Hoeppner walked Breanna Canova to lead off the inning – Hoeppner's only free-pass in the game. A successful sacrifice bunt by Fitch moved Canova into scoring position and a throwing error by Chelsey Rodenkirch scored Canova from second. The run would be SCSU's only of the game as Hoeppner blanked the Huskies in the final 13 frames. Hoeppner's no-hit bid was ended by Alyssa Coletto's double to left field in the top of the fifth. Hoeppner scattered 10 hits in the 15 innings of worked, allowing just three through the first seven innings and seven in the final eight frames.

In total, Hoeppner faced 55 batters -- ten over the minimum for 15 innings pitched, threw 159 pitches -- 117 for strikes and induced 18 groundball outs.

SMSU tied the game in the sixth and had a great opportunity to take the lead but came up short. Rodenkirch, Reinsma and Scearcy led off the inning with three straight singles -- Scearcy's the game-tying RBI single through the right side that scored Rodenkirch. The contagious hitting ended there as SCSU threw out Reinsma trying to steal home and tagged Kalkman out at home one batter later on a fielder's choice. Jennifer Johnson grounded out to end the threat.

The Mustangs got a runner in scoring position in the seventh, 10^th, 12^th and 15th innings but could never come up with the clutch game-winning hit.
Rodenkirch finished the game 3 for 5 with two walks to lead SMSU offensively, while Reinsma collected two hits in six at-bats.
 
The tie moves SMSU to 7-18-1 overall, 4-5-1 in the NSIC.

SMSU will play Minnesota Duluth in a doubleheader tomorrow afternoon at 12 and 2 p.m. at Mustang Field in Marshall.