Box Score
TOPEKA, Kan. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (1-1) attempted a late, bottom of the seventh rally, but fell short 9-6 to Central Missouri (5-0) in the second game of the first day of the Washburn Invitational in Topeka, Kan.
The Mules put up four runs off six hits and stranded two runners in the top of the first alone to take an early and quick lead.
SMSU's
Kali Tomlinson hit her second home run of the day in the bottom of the third to put the Mustangs on the board at 4-1 after three complete.
UCM responded once again with another big inning recording four runs off three hits to advance the lead to 8-1.
Kaylee Hentges, stepped up in the bottom of the fourth to single to right field to bring in the pinch runner,
Kristen Neumann, to chip away trailing 8-2.
The Mustangs couldn't shake the Mules they hit a sac fly to center to score their final runner to post a 9-2 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth.
Jillian Noel doubled to center in the bottom of the fifth to score
Kali Tomlinson to trail 9-3 before a three-run, four-hit, bottom of the seventh.
Tomlinson, who finished going 3-for-4 and scoring three runs, ripped a double to center to score Johnson while a single to right field would bring in Tomlinson and Grote to come up short at 9-6.
SMSU will face Nebraska-Kearney at 9 a.m. to open the second day at the Washburn Invitational at Hummer Sports Park, followed by a 2:30 p.m. game versus Fort Hays State at the Washburn Complex.
