Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team opened conference play with a sweep over Sioux Falls on Tuesday afternoon at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
 
SMSU, 7-7 overall and 2-0 in the NSIC, took game one with a final score of 3-1 and the second game 4-3 while USF dropped to 10-12 overall and 0-2 in the conference.

In game one, SMSU opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as Madison Krog smacked a solo home run over the right-center field fence to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
 
SMSU added to the lead in the third as Emma Grote singled with one out and stole second. Bailey Johnson drilled a double to score Grote and moments later Kali Tomlinson dropped a single down the right field line to push the score to 3-0.
 
The run support was more than enough for SMSU starting pitcher Athena Golling, who allowed just one unearned run on six hits. She struck out six and walked one, while improving to 4-3 on the season. It was her seventh complete game of the season.
 
Both teams finished the opener with six hits with Krog leading the Mustangs with two.
 
In game two, Sioux Falls jumped to an early lead in the top of the first after stringing together three runs off two doubles and a homerun with three runs off three hits.
 
The Mustang defense warded off potential danger, retiring 15 consecutive batters following the Cougars strong first inning.
 
The Mustangs were quiet until Grote ripped a triple to center field to score Madysson Schliinz who reached on a fielder's choice. Abbie Decker laid down a sac bunt to end the third down one run.
 
SMSU returned in the fifth inning to open with a ground-rule double from second-basemen Kaylee Hentges. Grote singled to first to put runners on first and third with one out. Decker would tie the game with a sac fly to center to score Hentges, although the Mustangs weren't finished there.
 
Just what SMSU was looking for, Johnson took to the plate to triple out in center to score Grote and take the lead.
 
Megan Cull came in relief to throw four innings to earn the win and strike out four batters. Cull is now 3-2 after 13 batters faced.
 
Lileya Kebos went 3-for-3 in game with Grote following behind going 2-for-3. Kebos and Grote combined for five of the Mustangs' eight hits in game 2.
 
Southwest Minnesota State returns to action with weekend twinbills against Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and Bemidji State on Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m., both at the Schwan Regional Event Center.