SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on a windy Monday afternoon splitting a doubleheader with the University of Sioux Falls at Sherman Park. SMSU won the opener, 3-1, but USF snapped a 2-2 score in game two with a three-run sixth inning and held on for a 5-3 win.
With the split, SMSU is now 10-6 overall, 1-1 NSIC, while USF is 7-9 overall, 1-1 NSIC.
In game one,
Megan Cull (6-1) was outstanding in the circle once again for the Mustangs tossing a complete game five-hitter with nine strikeouts and two walks.
The game was scoreless until the sixth when SMSU was able to breakthrough.
Bailey Johnson started the frame with a hit by pitch and moved to second on an infield single by
Emma Grote.
Kali Tomlinson followed with a double to center field, but Johnson was thrown out at the plate to keep the game scoreless. Following the play at the plate,
Jillian Noel came through with a clutch RBI single to score Grote and give SMSU a 1-0 lead.
SMSU picked up two big insurance runs in the seventh with
Patia Wolfe starting the rally reaching second base on an error. Wolf moved to third on a single by
Kaylee Hentges before
Madysson Schliinz moved Hentges to second with a sac bunt. Johnson then stepped to the plate and delivered a two-run single to make the score 3-0.
USF put together a big rally in the seventh using three straight hits to cut the deficit to 3-1 with no outs and two runners on base. A ground out moved up both runners, putting the tying run at second base, but Cull closed the game with a ground out and strikeout to seal the victory.
SMSU out-hit USF 10-5 in game one with Johnson finishing 2 for 3 with two RBIs, while Hentges and Grote each finished 2 for 3 with a run scored.
In game two, the Mustangs started the scoring in the second as Hentges reached second on drop-fly ball by the right fielder. Following a strikeout,
Molly Bull singled to center field to score Hentges and put SMSU in the lead 1-0.
SMSU starting pitcher
Allison Christians held USF scoreless until the fifth when the Cougars took advantage of two Mustang errors to score a pair of unearned runs and take a 2-1 advantage.
The lead didn't last long as SMSU answered in the sixth to tie the game. Tomlinson doubled to start the frame, moved to third on an infield single by Noel and eventually scored the tying run on a sac bunt by
Lileya Kebos. Noel would reach third base later in the inning, but the rally ended with a foul out.
USF put together the game-winning rally in the sixth with a lead-off walk, a wild pitch, and an infield base hit to put runners on the corners with no outs. Cull entered the game in relief and struck out the first batter she faced but a two-run single by Kylan Straight and an RBI single by Damaris Cuevas put the Cougars in front 5-2.
SMSU mounted its own rally in the seventh with Wolfe reaching via error and singles by Johnson and Grote loaded the bases with one out. Tomlinson pushed across a run with a ground out to make the score 5-3, but the game ended with a strikeout with runners in scoring position.
Johnson closed the game collecting three of SMSU's seven hits.
Christians (2-2) suffered the loss allowing four runs (two earned) on four hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Southwest Minnesota State returns to field for a pair of NSIC doubleheaders this weekend. SMSU will take on Bemidji State on Friday at 1 p.m. before facing Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 12 p.m.
