WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (5-8) opened The Spring Games with a 6-1 loss to Lewis University (6-4) at the DiamondPlex Softball Complex in Winter Haven, Fla.
SMSU would outhit the Flyers 4-3 but would walk six and hit three batters to suffer the setback.
Karlie Miller (2-5) suffered the loss in the circle, going four innings, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits and five walks while striking out two.
The Mustangs would strike first, as
Abby Russell would deliver a two-out RBI single in the second inning to score
Emily Tatur and give SMSU the early advantage.
Lewis would respond with three runs of their own in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of free bases and an error to score without a hit and take a 3-1 lead.
Lewis would score again in the fourth, picking up two hits and two walks with two outs to build their lead to 4-1.
Lewis would add a pair in the sixth, filling the bases with no outs before a fielder's choice and sac fly to push the two across.
After a leadoff single in the fourth inning, the Mustangs offense would be silenced as Lewis would send down 12 batters in a row to close out the game.
The Mustangs return to the diamond around 1:15, as they match-up with West Virginia Wesleyan College.
