Box Score

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Down one run heading into the final inning, the ninth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State softball team (19-24) strung together five hits to score three runs for a 9-7 comeback victory over the eighth-seeded Upper Iowa, at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, Minn., in game one of the NSIC Tournament.
 
Upper Iowa jumped to an early lead scoring in the first inning and every inning until the bottom of the seventh.
 
Kali Tomlinson put the Mustangs on the board in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run, but UIU answered in the bottom of the inning with a run to build a 4-2 lead.
 
Upper Iowa had a lead all the way until the sixth inning when SMSU's Abbie Decker hit a three-run homer in the top of the sixth to gain SMSU's first lead of the game going up 6-5.

The Peacocks would not go down as they responded with a two-run bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 7-6.
 
Familiar with the comeback fight already in the game, Madysson Schliinz started the seventh inning with a bunt single to put a runner on. With Emma Grote on first base with one out, Kaylee Hentges stepped to the plate with a single down the right field line to advance Grote to third. Bailey Johnson followed with an RBI single down the left field line to score Grote and tie the game back up at 7-7.
 
The Mustangs kept it rolling with a single from Tomlinson to load the bases. Decker then hit into a fielder's choice as Hentges was out at home for the second out. Alex Reak then came through with two-run single to the shortstop to score the final two runs needed as Johnson and Tomlinson came full circle.
 
The Peacocks scored in every inning except the bottom of the seventh. Up until the fifth inning, UIU scraped together one run each inning, all with two outs.
 
The Mustangs out-hit the Peacocks 13 to 11 led by Johnson who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs and two RBIs.
 
Shelby Crank earned the victory in the circle tossing three innings of relief.
 
Ninth seed Southwest Minnesota State will face the number two-seeded Augustana at 2 p.m. at the RYSFA Complex to continue play in the double-elimination NSIC Tournament.