CLERMONT, Fla.- Southwest Minnesota State closed out its annual Florida trip with a pair of wins that included an 8-6 win over Siena Heights to begin the day and a thrilling 8-7 victory over Nyack College to end the 10-game road trip on Friday afternoon.
Game 1 Box Score
Game 1- Southwest Minnesota State pushed across five runs in the top of the sixth inning to put a stop to a six game losing streak as SMSU defeated Siena Heights, 8-6 in its second to last game at "The Spring Games".
Alex O'Connor pitched her fourth complete game of the year, fending off a late rally in the bottom of the seventh to help preserve the win.
SMSU out hit the Saints 14-10 and the Mustangs still stranded nine runners on base in the win.
Sam Flack hit a solo home run for her first homer of the year while
Kali Tomlinson went 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored.
Madison Krog also went 3-for-4 during the game with one RBI and all but one SMSU starter managed at least one base hit.
Siena Height's starting pitcher, Lesley Ducat gave up three base-runners and walked in one run before being pulled in the top of the sixth with no outs.
The Mustangs would still manage to push across four more runs in the inning following the pitching change as Siena Height's relief pitcher, Lindsay Brandon, inherited a bases loaded situation.
Game 2 Box Score
Game 2- Alex O'Connor struck out one batter and forced a grounder to end the game as SMSU escaped with an 8-7 win over Nyack College in its final game at "The Spring Games" on Friday afternoon.
O'Connor earned her second save of the season after coming on in relief duty to begin the bottom of the sixth.
Shelby Crank was credited with the win after pitching one and two thirds innings as a reliever.
Kali Tomlinson went 2-for-4 with one RBI and also had four putouts and four assists at shortstop in the Mustangs' second game of the day.
Karmann Carroll went 2-for-4 with one run scored while Tori Brooks went 2-for-3 including a two-run home run in the top of the third inning.
An RBI double from
Kali Tomlinson in the top of the thrid started the scoring in an inning in which SMSU put up six total runs which was capped off by Brooks' homer.
Nyack responded in the fourth with six runs of its own to tie the game at 6-6. After an SMSU 1-2-3 inning in the top half of the fifth, Nyack took its first lead of the game on an RBI double.
Madison Krog scored on a ground ball in the top of the sixth to tie the game at 7-7 which was followed by a sacrifice bunt from
Taylor Koloc to score Tori Brooks, giving the Mustangs the 8-7 lead.
Alex O'Connor gave up three hits as a reliever and secured the win and her save by escaping a late jam with runners on second and third with just one out in the bottom of the seventh.
SMSU will host its first home games of the season next weekend as they host a doubleheader against Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) on Mar. 18 with first pitch scheduled for 2 p.m.
