TAMPA, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (8-11) would drop a pair of games against No. 14 University of Tampa (15-8) 5-1 and 9-1 on Thursday afternoon at Naimoli Family Stadium on the campus of the University of Tampa. 
 
Tampa would strike first in game one, as a leadoff single, sac bunt, and single to right field would drive in the leadoff hitter and take a 1-0 lead. 
 
The Spartans added another run in the second, scoring on an error to double their lead at 2-0. 
 
The Mustang offense would bring in a run in the third inning as Emily Tatur would drive a two-out single to center, bringing in Makenna Waldow and cutting the deficit to 2-1. 
 
Tampa would add three runs in the bottom of the inning to give Tampa a 5-1 lead that would eventually hold. 
 
Mariah Galhouse would retire 12 of the final 14 batters she faced to earn the victory for Tampa. 
 
Shelby Bloemendaal (5-4) would be dealt the loss in game one, going six innings, giving up five runs (four earned) on seven hits and a walk. 
 
SMSU would pick up four hits and make four errors, as Tampa would collect seven hits while not making an error. 
 
Tampa would again score first in game two with an RBI single and sac fly in the first inning to take a 2-0 lead. 
 
The Spartans would add five more in the third and one more in the fourth before the Mustangs would find their way onto the scoreboard in the top of the fifth, scoring off a two-out dropped fly ball to keep the game going, but Tampa would close the game out in the bottom of the fifth with an RBI single. 
 
Morgyn Otte (0-1) would be dealt the loss in game two, going 4 1/3 innings, allowing nine runs (six earned) on 15 hits, while issuing a walk and striking out one. 
 
The Mustangs' stay in Florida concludes on Friday, traveling to Eckerd College for a pair of games beginning at 3 p.m. CST.