Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team opened its home season on Saturday with solid pitching and timely hitting to earn a 4-3 and 3-0 doubleheader sweep over Upper Iowa in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball on Saturday at Mustang Field.
 
SMSU, playing its first home games since April 24, 2019, has won six straight and nine of its last 11 in improving to 16-6 overall, 7-1 NSIC. It was also a record-setting day for SMSU's Bailey Johnson, who ripped three doubles on the day, and in the process became the program's all-time leader in doubles.
 
In the opener, SMSU used a big two-out rally in the fifth inning to bounce back from a three-run deficit, before winning the game via walk-off fashion.
 
UIU's Kristin Sadler belted a three-run homer in the second inning to give the Peacocks a 3-0 advantage. UIU pitcher Abby McKay was in control for 4 2/3 innings before SMSU rallied in the fifth inning.
 
With two outs in the fifth, Johnson doubled for the first time in the game and moments later sprinted around the bases following an infield single by Emma Grote and a UIU throwing error on the play. Kali Tomlinson then stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run home run to tie the game at 3-3. It was Tomlinson's team-leading eighth home run of the season.
 
UIU (6-17, 2-8 NSIC) loaded the bases in the top of the sixth but SMSU relief pitcher Allison Christians worked out of the jam with a ground out to keep the game tied.
 
The score remained 3-3 until the bottom of seventh when Patia Wolfe started the winning rally with a single. Johnson followed with a double to center field—setting the program doubles record—and putting the winning run on third base. Grote would push across the winning run with a sac fly to left field to score Wolfe.
 
Christians (4-2) picked up the win with two shutout innings of relief recording a pair of strikeouts. Megan Cull started in the circle and fired five innings, allowed three runs on seven hits with one strikeout.
 
Both teams had eight hits in the opener with Grote finishing 3 for 3, while Johnson had two doubles.
 
In game two, Shelby Bloomendaal (4-2) recorded her first career shutout, tossing a six-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk.
 
SMSU started the scoring in the third as Johnson doubled and later scored on an infield RBI single by Grote.
 
The Mustangs added to the lead in the fourth with Madysson Schliinz hitting a run-scoring single to score Makenna Waldow and making the score 2-0. SMSU pushed the lead to 3-0 as Schliinz and Lileya Kebos executed a double steal with Kebos sliding across the plate.
 
The Peacocks would threaten in both the sixth and seventh innings, leaving two runners on base each frame, but Blomendaal was able to work out of the jam.
 
Kebos led SMSU's seven-hit attack with two hits and a run scored with Johnson, Jillian Noel, Grote, Schliinz and Tomlinson each finishing with one hit.
 
Johnson now has 44 career doubles and surpassed the previous record of 42 set by Amanda Burkhart (2006-09).
 
Southwest Minnesota State continues its homestand on Sunday with a 12 p.m. doubleheader versus No. 11 ranked Winona State.