Game Box

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – Top-seeded Winona State snapped a 3-3 game with a seven-run fifth inning and went on to earn an 11-3 victory over Southwest Minnesota State in the quarterfinals of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament at Bowden Field on the campus of Augustana University on Thursday afternoon.
 
SMSU (16-25), the tournament's 10^th seed, had advanced to the quarterfinals following a 4-3 victory over Minnesota State earlier on Thursday. The Mustangs will now drop to the loser's bracket and will play at 10 a.m. on Friday versus either St. Cloud State or Minnesota State at Bowden Field.
 
WSU (42-5), the No. 1 seed in this week's NCAA Central Region rankings and No. 5 ranked team in the latest NFCA Top 25 poll, put together six hits and used one SMSU error in the decisive fifth inning to earn its 12^th straight victory. WSU has now defeated SMSU in 23 straight meetings, with SMSU's last win coming on April 25, 2009.
 
Shelby Crank (5-7) made her first start in the circle in more than three weeks and tossed 4 1/3innings, allowing nine runs on six hits with a two strikeouts and one walk.
 
WSU scored single runs in the first and third innings before SMSU rallied to take the lead in the fourth frame. With two outs, Mackenzie Clouse hit a single and was followed by a walk to Kaylee Hentges. Alex Reak then stepped to the plate and launched 3-1 pitch down the left field line for a three-run homer—her fourth long ball of the season—to give SMSU a 3-2 advantage.
 
WSU quickly answered in the bottom of the fourth as Jamee Schleis hit a one-out solo homer to tie the game at 3-3.
 
SMSU threatened to regain the lead in the fifth as Emma Grote singled to start the inning and Abbie Decker was hit by a pitch with no outs. But a pair of strikeouts and a fly out ended the rally and kept the game tied at 3-3.
 
WSU out-hit SMSU 14-8, with Clouse leading the SMSU offense with three hits and a run scored.