MANKATO, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team returned to the diamond to open the 2022 season, defeating Northwest Missouri State 8-0 in their only game of the Portolite & Field Turf MSU Invitational inside the MSU Dome in Mankato on Friday afternoon. 
 
Shelby Bloemendaal would lead the way on both sides of the ball, going a career-high 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, all while throwing her 14^th career complete game and third career shutout, matching a career-high with six strikeouts while allowing just five hits and one walk. 
 
Bailey Johnson would break a scoreless tie in the third inning with a two-run single, knocking in Abby Russell and Paige Shwaluk to take a 2-0 lead. Bloemendaal's fourth inning double would drive in Emily Tatur to add to the lead, and after two more fourth inning runs, Bloemendaal would again drive in Tatur with a fifth inning RBI single to take a 6-0 lead. 
 
The Mustangs would add a run in both the sixth and seventh innings off wild pitches to bring the game to its final score. 
 
Four Mustangs would deliver multi-hit games as part of a 14-hit barrage. Bloemendaal would be joined by sophomore transfer Paige Shwaluk, who opened her SMSU career going 3 for 4 with a run scored in the victory. Johnson would prove there is no plans of a senior year slump with a 2 for 4 day while driving in two runs.
 
The freshman Tatur would also provide a spark in her Mustang debut, going 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored and a walk.  Abby Russell, Lileya Kebos, Jillian Noel, and Patia Wolfe would all add hits in the victory. 
 
The Mustangs return to action Friday, Feb. 11, opening the St. Cloud State Kelly Laas Invite at 7:30 p.m. against Sioux Falls. The Mustangs will play five games over the weekend, with a pair of games on Saturday and a pair on Sunday.