ST. CLOUD, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (3-3) closed out the St. Cloud State Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament inside the SCSU Dome on Sunday afternoon, dropping an 8-4 game against Bemidji State before losing to the host St. Cloud State 4-2.
In the opener versus Bemidji State, the Beavers would strike first, scoring a pair of first inning runs to take a 2-0 lead. SMSU would strike back in the second inning, loading the bases with an error and a pair of walks before a
Paige Shwaluk fielder's choice would get them on the board followed by an
Abby Russell RBI single and
Bailey Johnson two-run double to give SMSU an early 4-2 lead.
BSU would counter in the top of the third inning, as a two-run home run would tie the game at 4-4. SMSU would load the bases with one out in the bottom half, but a flyout and groundout would end the threat.
After a pair of scoreless frames, BSU broke it open in the sixth, scoring four two-out runs two hits, two walks, and an error to double up SMSU at 8-4. The Mustangs would be unable to overcome the deficit, going down in order in the sixth and seventh inning.
SMSU starting pitcher
Shelby Bloemendaal (2-1) would go the distance in the circle, allowing eight runs (four earned), seven hits and four walks while striking out two.
The Mustangs would collect nine hits, with
Bailey Johnson going 3 for 4 to lead the way. Six different Mustangs would record one hit.
In game two against St. Cloud State, the Mustangs would again have to play from behind early, as a run scoring double would give the Huskies a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
SCSU would strike again in the fourth inning with a one-out single to double their lead at 2-0.
The Mustangs would get on the board in the fifth, when Johnson drove in Shwaluk with an RBI groundout to cut the Husky lead in half.
Lileya Kebos would even the game the next at bat, delivering a two-out single up the middle to drive in Russell and restart the game at 2-2.
The game would stay 2-2 into the bottom of the sixth, where SCSU would draw a walk and reach on a bunt single to create a threat with no outs.
After advancing the runners on a walk and reaching on a fielder's choice, SCSU would cash in, scoring on a walk and a groundout to reclaim a 4-2 lead into the final inning.
Kebos woud deliver a two-out single to keep the Mustang hopes alive, but it would not be enough to get past the Huskies.
Karlie Miller (1-2) would suffer the loss, finishing a complete game giving up four runs (all earned), six hits and six walks.
The Mustangs would record nine hits in game two, with Kebos going 3 for 4 and Russell picking up two hits to lead the way.
SMSU will be back in action in the Washburn Invitational, playing six games in Topeka Kan., Feb. 25-27.
