Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

WAYNE, Neb. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team picked up a key doubleheader sweep today at Wayne State, winning 2-0 and 5-1, to keep its NSIC Tournament hopes alive.
 
SMSU, which opened the day in 11^th place in the NSIC standings, improves to 21-21 overall, 12-14 NSIC. The top 10 teams in the conference advance to the NSIC Tournament next week in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
 
In game one, Alex O'Connor (11-9) fired a six-hit shutout—her fourth of the season—giving up just two hits through the first five innings, while striking out a season-high 12 batters. With her effort today, O'Connor moves into a tie for second place in school history with 47 career victories.
 
Mackenzie Clouse had the big hit in the opener, connecting on a two-run home run (her fourth of the season) to give SMSU the lead in the top of the fourth inning.
 
Sam Flack was a perfect 2 for 2 with a run scored, while Emma Grote went 2 for 4.
 
In a scoreless game in the top of the fourth, Flack reached on a single with one out which was followed immediately by Clouse's two-run homer to center field.
 
WSC (11-37, 5-19 NSIC) rallied in the home half of the fourth, placing runners on first and second with one out, but O'Connor struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning and keep SMSU with a two-run lead.
 
WSC put together one more rally in the seventh with a pair of singles, before O'Connor struck out the final two batters to end game one.
 
In game two, SMSU opened the scoring in the second inning as Kaylee Hentges singled and moved to second on a sac bunt by Abbie Decker. Hentges would later score on a ground out by Victoria Brooks to give SMSU a 1-0 lead.
 
SMSU opened the game up with a big third inning, pushing across four runs on five hits. Following an RBI single by Hentges to score Flack and make the score 2-0, Decker drilled a 3-run home run over the center field fence to push the lead to 5-0.
 
The run support was plenty for Mustang starting pitcher Athena Golling (5-3), who fired five shutout innings, allowing four hits with three strikeouts and one walk. Megan Cull tossed the final two innings, allowing one run on one hit.
 
Alex Reak paced SMSU's 13-hit attack in game two, going 4 for 4, while Hentges and Flack each collected two hits.
 
Southwest Minnesota State concludes the regular season this Saturday and Sunday with four big home games. SMSU will battle Minnesota Crookston on Saturday with a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m., before closing on Sunday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader versus Bemidji State.
 
Saturday will be "Senior Day" for the Mustang program.