Game Box

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Kali Tomlinson had two hits, including a home run and also walked twice, to lead 10^th-seeded Southwest Minnesota State to a 4-3 victory over No. 7 seed and defending NCAA Champion Minnesota State in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament at Sherman Park.
 
The win was also the 100^th career victory for fifth-year SMSU head Jamie Dunn. It was also SMSU's first win over MSU since April 4, 2013, snapping an 11-game losing streak.

Southwest Minnesota State, which improves to 16-24, will now face NSIC regular season champion Winona State at 2 p.m. on Friday at Bowden Field on the campus Augustana.  MSU, which is ranked sixth in this week's NCAA Central Region rankings, drops to 33-16 overall.
 
Megan Cull (6-9) picked up the win in the circle for SMSU, tossing her team-leading seventh complete game of the season. She scattered nine hits and walked four batters, while striking out six.
 
SMSU opened the scoring in the top of first inning as Emma Grote started rally with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt by Abbie Decker. Bailey Johnson then smacked a run-scoring single to give SMSU a 1-0 lead.
 
MSU came right back in the home half of the inning using three walks to load the bases with two outs. Julia Bastian came through for the Mavericks with a two-run single to put MSU in front 2-1.
 
SMSU came back to tie the game in the third as Johnson worked a one-out walk. Johnson would later steal second, before moving to third base on an infield single by Tomlinson. Madison Krog then stepped up and smacked a long fly ball to center to score Johnson and tie the game at 2-2.
 
SMSU regained the lead in the fourth as Kaylee Hentges smacked a lead-off double and scored moments later on an infield single up the middle by Alex Reak.
 
The Mustangs had a great chance to add to the lead in the fifth as Johnson, Tomlinson and Reak all walked to load the bases with two outs. With Reak at the plate, Johnson attempted to score on a pitch to the backstop by MSU's Mackenzie Ward, but Johnson was called out at the plate to keep the game 3-2.
 
MSU had a great chance to tie the game or take the lead in the bottom of the fifth. A single, walk and sac bunt put two runners in scoring position. MSU's Hailey Forshee hit a fly ball to center field that was caught by Decker, who fired a perfect throw to the plate to gun down the potential tying run and keep SMSU in the lead at 3-2.
 
SMSU picked up a big insurance run in the top of the seventh as Tomlinson smacked a solo home run to left field, her team-leading fifth of the season, to push the lead to 4-2.
 
The extra run proved to be the difference, as MSU added a two-out RBI double to close the gap to 4-3, but Cull closed the game with a ground out to secure SMSU's third straight victory.

Tomlinson and Reak both finished with two hits for the Mustangs, which finished the game with eight hits.
 
SMSU and WSU will be meeting for the third time this season, with WSU winning both games, 12-4 and 8-2 on March 30 in Sioux Falls.