WU Box Score | ESU Box Score
TOPEKA, Kan. –The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (1-5) closed the final day of play at the Washburn Invitational, falling 2-0 to Washburn (12-11), and 5-4 to Emporia State (11-7), on Sunday afternoon at the Washburn Complex.
Kali Tomlinson capitalized on a 13-hit weekend, going 4-for-4 at the plate, including one RBI in the fall to Emporia State. ESU strung together five runs off seven hits while the Mustangs came up one short with four runs off 12 hits.
ESU went on the board in the first inning after a double to center would kick off the top with one run off one hit. ESU would advance the lead to 2-0 after the second, off a triple to kick off the second followed by a ground out.
Before SMSU could go on the board, ESU's Maddy Broxterman ripped a 2 RBI-single to left field to advance the lead to 4-0.
The Mustangs scraped together one run in the bottom of the fifth with back-to-back singles from Tomlinson and
Emma Grote would put two runners on. The Mustangs loaded the bases as
Lileya Kebos singled down the left field line to score Grote to go on the board at 4-1 after five complete.
The Mustangs roared up again the sixth to walk away with two runs off four hits and two left on base.
Bailey Johnson sent an RBI-double to center to bring in Hentges for the first run, followed by a single from Tomlinson to score Madyyson Schliinz.
Both teams scored one run in the seventh as the Mustangs came up one short after Kebos scoring off a ground out to short in the bottom.
In the game versus Washburn, the Ichabods scored their two runs off six hits while the Mustangs were unable to bring a runner in off four hits and stranding six.
WU scored their first run in the bottom of the first with a three-hit first inning and would put the second run up in the bottom of the third off another three-hit inning. SMSU's Alli Christians (0-2) who tossed six innings with two strikeouts, strike out the final batter with bases loaded to keep the runners at bay.
Kebos led SMSU in the fall to WU going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Kali Tomlinson finished the weekend batting .619, after going 13-for-21 at the plate. For her performance in the opening weekend, Tomlinson was named to the Washburn Invitational All-Tournament team.
Southwest Minnesota State prepares for a 10-game spring break trip from March 8-12, facing eight non-conference opponents in Winter Haven, Fla.
