Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
MARSHALL, Minn. — Winona State's Hanna Lythberg hurled a no-hitter as the Warriors defeated Southwest Minnesota State 2-0 in game one in NSIC softball. WSU went on to record the sweep with a 7-2 victory in game two.
Southwest Minnesota State concludes the regular season 16-31 overall and 12-18 in the NSIC. Winona State finishes 34-14 overall and 16-9 in the conference.
Alex O'Connor suffered the loss in the opener, pitching the complete game giving up seven hits, two runs and struck out one. WSU's Lythberg had a perfect game going into the final inning, but a hit-batter broke the flawlessness.
SMSU did not register a hit and struck out 10 times. WSU finished with seven hits and two RBIs, while stranding eight runners.
Both team's defenses were in lockdown mode, as the game was scoreless after seven innings. WSU left just four batters on base through six innings, while the Mustangs couldn't generate a hit. The Warriors jammed the bases in the top of top of the seventh, but two-straight outs by the Mustang defense avoided any damage and left the opportunity for a walk-off win. SMSU put its first—and only—base runner on after
Sam Flack was hit by a pitch with two outs, but a ground out smothered any chance of walk-off. In extra innings, The Warriors broke the brought with a 1-out single before a triple down the right field line scored a run. WSU scored the next at bat with a groundout to take a 2-0 lead. SMSU tried to retaliate in the bottom half, but could not get anything going.
In game two,
Athena Golling started and was marked with the loss after pitching 4 2/3 innings giving up seven runs on six hits, while striking out three. O'Connor returned and closed the last 2 1/3 inning giving up two hits and punching out two.
SMSU recorded eight hits behind
Karmann Carroll's 3 for 4 performance and two runs scored.
Taylor Koloc and
Mackenzie Clouse tallied the two RBIs for the Mustangs.
SMSU started things right away in the first frame, as Carroll led off with a double and then moved to third on an error to have an immediate threat. Koloc put down the sac bunt the following at bat to score Carroll. SMSU held a 1-0 lead through the majority of the game, but it disintegrated in the fifth. The Warriors started the fifth loading the bases with one out, before banging off four hits to take a 6-1 lead. O'Connor came in with two outs and gave up one more run before closing the inning. SMSU tried to cut the deficit in the bottom of the fifth, loading the bases with one out. Clouse singled to right field to score a run, but back-to-back infield outs retired the side. SMSU couldn't get anything going in the final two innings and fell 7-2.
Southwest Minnesota State will have to wait till tomorrow to secure a place in the NSIC Tournament starting on Thursday in Sioux Falls, S.D. St. Cloud State and Minot State will continue action tomorrow morning after being postponed due to rain in Minot, N.D. SCSU will need to record a sweep in order to push SMSU out of the tournament. Follow @smsusoftball on Twitter for up to the minute information.
