Game 1 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Southwest Minnesota State 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 in game one of a doubleheader at the Schwan Regional Event Center on Monday.
 
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 (10-7, 5-0 NSIC) opened 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 (12-17, 1-4 NSIC) 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 (6-3) 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.