Game 1 Box
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Southwest Minnesota State softball team combined for just five hits as it was swept by Augustana University in NSIC softball on Wednesday afternoon. SMSU dropped the first game 7-2, before suffering a 2-1 loss in the final game.
 
Augustana improves to 30-11 overall and 17-2 in the NSIC, while SMSU falls to 14-23 overall and 10-10 in the conference.

Alex O'Connor (8-11) recorded the loss in game one after pitching five innings giving up nine hits and five runs, while striking out five batters. Athena Golling came in and pitched the final inning giving up three hits and two runs.
 
SMSU's bats were quiet in the first game, recording just two hits and two RBIs, while Taylor Chavez hit her first home run of the season in the top of the seventh to avoid the shutout. Janae Annetts recorded the other Mustang hit in the opening frame on a bunt single.
 
The Mustangs couldn't get thing going as they went 3-up 3-down five of the seven innings. SMSU left a runner on in the second after a fielding error and had a runner on base in the seventh inning as Sam Flack walked before Chavez hit a home run.
 
In game two, O'Connor went the distance and picked up the loss allowing seven hits and two runs (one earned), while adding to her strike count with four punch outs.
 
SMSU stuggled to get the bats going aginst as it went down in order five of the innings again. The Mustangs notched just three hits in the final game with Flack, Taylor Koloc and Shelby Crank recording hits. The Mustangs tied the game at 1-1 in the third inning as it scored its only run of the game after Flack reached on a fielding error, which also scored pinch runner Jordyn Goldschmidt from third. The Vikings scored the go-ahead run in the sixth after an error with two outs let a run cross.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will travel to Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston this weekend.