> Game 1 Box
> Game 2 Box
MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team took advantage of five Augustana errors and used clutch hitting to record a 6-1 victory in game two and earn a split of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Tuesday at Mustang Field.
Augustana won game one 10-0, opening a tight game with an eight-run seventh inning.
The loss for Augustana—ranked No. 12 nationally—snapped a 21-game winning streak and was their first setback in NSIC play this season. The Vikings' last loss prior to today was on March 21.
SMSU is now 21-19 overall, 10-8 NSIC, while Augustana is 38-6 overall, 19-1 NSIC.
In game two, the Vikings struck first with a run in the second inning, but the Mustangs rallied with a big third inning to take the lead.
Katelyn Kalkman started the third inning rally with a single and moved to second on a throwing error.
Alysse Luttmann laid down a sac bunt, but a throwing allowed Luttmann to reach and Kalkman to come around and score to tie the game. Luttmann would then score on a fielding error by the centerfielder on a ball hit by
Kailey Hanson to give SMSU a 2-1 lead.
Jazmyne Neely followed with an RBI single and would later score on a two-out run-scoring single by
Taylor Koloc to push the lead to 4-1.
SMSU added to the lead in the fourth as
Tristine Vandeman singled to start the frame. Pinch runner
Megan Bunting moved to second on a passed ball, before scoring on a Viking fielding error on a bunt by
Elissa Reinsma. Another Viking error on a bunt by Kalkman scored Reinsma to make the score 6-1.
The support was plenty for SMSU pitcher
Alex O'Connor (14-11), who tossed a six-hitter, allowing one run and one walk with four strikeouts.
SMSU finished the game with nine hits, with Koloc leading the way going 3 for 3, while Neely was 2 for 3.
In game one, the Vikings scored a run in the second and another in the fourth to build a 2-0 advantage. The game remained 2-0 until the seventh when the Vikings took advantage of two SMSU errors and knocked out seven hits to score eight runs.
Augustana pitcher Jenelle Trautmann tossed the first six innings to pick up the win and improve to 23-1 on the season. She struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
Koloc picked up SMSU's only hit.
O'Connor took the loss throwing all seven innings and allowing just three earned runs on 15 hits.
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action on Thursday hosting the University of Sioux Falls starting at 2 p.m.
