Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team swept a doubleheader versus Bemidji State on Sunday at the Schwan Regional Event Center with an 8-3 victory following a strong start in the first inning in game one and an 11-9 comeback victory in game two.

Bailey Johnson started game one with a single RBI triple to score Emma Grote for an early 1-0 lead. The Mustangs strung together another run from an RBI single from Kali Tomlinson to bring Johnson in.

The Mustangs advanced the lead in the next two innings with a four-run second inning with a three RBI triple from Grote. Grote came in on the throw to build a 6-0 lead after two complete.

The Beavers made a run to close in on the Mustangs with a three-run top of the third inning. The Beavers scored three runs off three hits with one error and one runner left on base.

The Mustangs scraped together two more runs in the bottom of third with a two-run homerun from Kaylee Hentges for the 8-3 advantage.

Athena Golling (5-3) threw a complete game with five strikeouts. Five Mustangs shared the lead with one hit.

In game two, the Beavers put up two runs with three hits off one single and triple to center and a single up the right sideline.

BSU put another run up in the second with a single to score one run off two hits in the inning.

SMSU was quiet until a loud, four-run inning in the bottom of the third sparked by single from Hentges. The Mustangs took advantage of five consecutive hits from Hentges, Grote, Madysson Schliinz, Abbie Decker, and Bailey Johnson capped it off with a double to center.

The Beavers responded with a one-run top of the fourth as runner came in on an error.

With the game tied at 4-4 after four complete, the Beavers brought in two more runners in the top of five with a double and triple to start the top of the inning, followed by a sac fly to center to finish the inning with two more runs.

The Mustangs responded with a single to center field from Tomlinson to score Grote before they prepared for a six-run bottom of the sixth.  

The Mustangs kept the Beavers at bay in the top of six before a six-run inning that would five them an 11-6 lead. Kaylea Van Regenmorter singled to start the inning when Sara DeSmet came in to pinch run. Hentges reached base on a fielder's choice and a fielding error would leave both Mustangs on base.

Schliinz drove DeSmet in for the first run of the inning. With no outs, Grote was walked to load the bases. Abbie Decker, who went 2-for-3 at the plate with four RBIs in game two, hit a three-run triple to center to wipe the bases clear. Moments later, Decker was brought in by two-run homerun from Johnson to complete the six-run inning.

The Beavers attempted to close in once again on the Mustangs, putting up three runs in the top of the seven, but Megan Cull (4-2), who came in relief, warded off the Beavers three consecutive outs after the runs scored off a fly ball to left, a strike out looking, and a ground out to end the game.

Schliinz, Grote, Decker, and Johnson all contributed evenly to SMSU's 11-hit game.

Southwest Minnesota State (9-7, 4-0 NSIC) returns home for a doubleheader versus Minnesota Crookston at 12 and 2 p.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center.