Box Score Game 1 | Box Score Game 2

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State's Bailey Johnson hit a walk-off triple to left-center field in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Mustangs to a 2-1 victory in game two and asweep over Minnesota Crookston on Monday afternoon at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

Game One
Southwest Minnesota State, 11-7 overall and 6-0 in the NSIC, snapped a 4-4 tie with a huge two-out rally in the bottom of the sixth to earn a 12-4 victory over Minnesota Crookston, 12-18 overall and 1-5 NSIC, in game one of the doubleheader.
 
With a runner on second and two outs in the sixth, SMSU's Bailey Johnson was intentionally walked and was followed by an RBI single by Kali Tomlinson to put the Mustangs in front at 5-4. The rally was far from over as Alex Reak smacked a two-run double down the right field line to make the score 7-4. Lileya Kebos singled to make the score 8-4, before Madison Krog walked. The hit parade continued as Kaylee Hentges, Madysson Hentges, Emma Grote and Abbie Decker each smacked singles to end the game via run-rule.
 
The Mustangs pened the game's scoring in the bottom of the first as Johnson ripped an RBI triple and scored two batters later on a Reak run-scoring base hit.
 
UMC tied the game with two runs in the third, but SMSU regained the lead in the fourth with a pair of runs. Krog started the inning with a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Sara DeSmet. Following a walk to Hentges and a ground out, Grote singled to load the bases. Decker then drilled a single up the middle to plate two runs and give SMSU a 4-2 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles wouldn't go away and eventually tied the game in the fifth with two runs on two hits and one SMSU error to make the score 4-4.
 
SMSU out-hit UMC 15-8, with Grote leading the way with a career-high four hits, while driving in two runs and scoring twice. Decker was 2 for 4 with three RBIs, Reak added two hits and three RBIs while Schliinz recorded two hits.
 
Athena Golling  recorded the victory in the circle scattering eight hits and allowing four runs (two earned) with eight strikeouts and one walk.

The Mustangs finished game one with a season-high in both hits and runs.

Game Two
Game two was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Hentges was brought in by a fielder's choice followed by a fielding error on the Golden Eagles to go on the board with a 1-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles responded in the top of the fifth with a single to start the inning followed by a fielder's choice which would bring in the runner from second. The Mustangs escaped the inning allowing only one run off two hits and two runners left on base.

In the top of the seventh, UMC had runners on second and first when Golling returned to the circle for her second appearance after throwing a complete game in game one.

Golling gave up a single to left field as UMC loaded the bases with one out. UMC's Rocky Bjorge hit into a double-play forcing out the runner at home and the out at first.

The Mustangs entered the bottom of the seventh at the top of the order as Grote, who went 7-of-9 on the day, singled to left field to reach first. Decker followed to strike-out looking which put Johnson at the plate with one out.

With a full count, Johnson ripped the ball to left-center field to bring Grote in for the win and maintain SMSU's undefeated record in the conference.

Golling picked up two wins today to finish with a 7-3 overall record and a 1.20 ERA.

SMSU out-hit UMC 9-8 in game two with Grote leading the way going three hits with Hentges adding two.

Southwest Minnesota State (11-7, 6-0 NSIC) hosts Augustana (26-5, 6-0) tomorrow at 2 and 4 p.m. at the Schwan Regional Event Center before a road-trip to Winona State and Upper Iowa this weekend.