Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. — Junior pitcher Alex O'Connor struck out a career-high 13 batters en route to a 5-4 victory in eight innings in game one, before SMSU recorded the sweep with a 5-2 victory in the final game against Minot State on Saturday afternoon in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball.
 
O'Connor (4-7) hurled the complete eight-inning game, striking out 13, walking three and allowing nine hits.
 
The SMSU offense tallied eight hits and left nine on base, while Minot State racked up nine hits and left seven stranded. Mackenzie Clouse led the Mustangs with a 3 for 4 plate performance, including an RBI.
 
Clouse started the scoring for SMSU in the first frame, after a single to left field scored Karmann Carroll.
 
The Beavers tied the game at 1-1 in the forth inning before taking a 3-1 advantage in the sixth.
 
SMSU cut into the deficit in the sixth inning after Taylor Koloc hit a sac fly to left field to score Jazmyne Neely from third. The Mustangs wouldn't stop their, as they pushed their home-run streak to five-straight games after Sam Flack hit a homer in the top of the seventh to force the game into extra innings.
 
Minot State had a chance to score in the top of the eighth, but a great throw from Carroll to home smothered any damage done.
 
In the bottom of the frame, SMSU set up inning after Taylor Koloc reached first on a throwing error before stealing second. With two outs, Carroll reached on a throwing error, which also allowed Koloc to score from second and grab the 4-3 win.
 
SMSU improves to 38-29-1 in extra-innings games since 2001 and is first extra-inning win of the season.
 
In game two, Athena Golling (3-4) picked up the win after pitching 5 2/3 innings, before Shelby Crank (1) came in to close the last 1 1/3 innings and picked up her first save. Golling gave up six hits and two runs, while Crank tallied a pair of strike outs.
 
The Mustang notched nine hits and left four on base, while Minot State tallied six hits and left five. Taylor Chavez paced the Mustang offense with two hits, including four RBIs.
 
SMSU took control in the first inning as Chavez singled to score Janae Annetts and Flack to lead 2-0. The Mustangs struck again in the fifth, scoring three runs from a single by Clouse and a double by Chavez.
 
Minot State tried to comeback in the sixth after scoring a pair of runs, but could get anymore across.
 
Southwest Minnesota State will continue action tomorrow at Mustang Field facing U-Mary at 12 p.m.