Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
MARSHALL, Minn.- Southwest Minnesota State earned another big sweep over an NSIC opponent as they defeated Minnesota Crookston, 11-0 and 7-4 on Saturday afternoon to remain in contention for a birth in next weekend's conference tournament.
Game 1
SMSU came out on fire offensively as the Mustangs put up three runs in the first inning and had a six-run bottom of the third to coast to an 11-0 win in five innings over Minnesota Crookston in game one on Saturday afternoon.
After being honored during pregame, the Mustangs' four seniors each had significant contributions during the game one win.
Tori Brooks went 2 for 3 with three runs scored from her usual lead off position in the Mustangs' lineup.
Abbie Decker went 2 for 2 with a run scored and
Taylor Koloc was 1 for 3 with a run scored as well.
Alex O'Connor picked up the win to move into sole possession of second place all-time in school history in career wins (48). O'Connor gave up just two hits and had five strikeouts in her fifth shutout performance of the year.
The Mustangs had 14 total hits in the game as SMSU's bats were on fire from the start. SMSU took an early 3-0 lead with three runs in the bottom of the first on five hits.
SMSU then followed up with two runs in the second and had a huge third with six runs on six hits and one error from Minnesota Crookston. The Mustangs also had four of their five total stolen bases during the six-run third inning that blew the game open.
O'Connor did not allow a single base runner in the final two innings as the Mustangs captured the game one win by run rule after five innings.
Game 2
Southwest Minnesota State had two separate three-run innings in game two as the Mustangs overcame an early deficit in a 7-4 win in game two over Minnesota Crookston.
Athena Golling came on in relief duty in the top of the third and earned her sixth win of the season pitching five innings with just four hits allowed and no earned runs surrendered.
Tori Brooks followed up a strong first game by going 3 for 4 with two runs scored and one RBI.
Madison Krog hit her second home run of the year while
Abbie Decker was 2 for 3 in game two.
It was the Golden Eagles that got off to an early lead in game two as Minnesota Crookston scored two runs on three hits and one error in the top of the first inning.
Tori Brooks scored the first run of the game for the Mustangs on an error by the Golden Eagles' first baseman. With Karmann Carroll on second,
Madison Krog homered to center to give the Mustangs a 3-2 advantage.
SMSU added to its lead in the fourth when pinch runner,
Sara DeSmet came home to score on a single up the middle from
Kaylee Hentges.
The Mustangs then put up three more runs in the bottom of the sixth despite a fly out and ground out to start the inning. SMSU strung together three straight singles that scored
Abbie Decker who started the two-out rally.
Emma Grote had a triple on a ball through the gap in the left center that scored two more for the Mustangs to extend their lead to 7-2.
Minnesota Crookston threatened a late two-out rally of its own in the top of the seventh as a double to left field scored two unearned runs to make the score 7-4 before
Athena Golling struck out her final batter of the afternoon looking to end the second game.
Southwest Minnesota State will play Bemidji State tomorrow at 12 p.m., weather permitting, as the Mustangs hope to hold on to its current ninth place ranking in the NSIC which would result in a birth for next week's NSIC Tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D.
