WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (8-8) used late inning production to top Bloomfield College (1-3) 6-1 on Monday morning at DiamondPlex B.
The Mustangs would out-hit the Bears 10-7, as
Abby Russell,
Jillian Noel, and
Molly Bull each had multi-hit games. Russell and Noel would each hit two-run home runs, while Bull would score a run and steal a base.
Allison Christians (1-0) would come in the third inning, going five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out a season-high six batters.
Morgyn Otte would get the start, going shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.
Each team would load the bases in the first, as the Mustangs would do so with two outs and the Bears would do it with just an out. Each pitcher would wiggle their way out of trouble, keeping the game scoreless through one.
Paige Shwaluk would start a two-run rally in the second, singling through the left side and advancing to second as
Abby Russell reached on an error.
The Mustangs would open the scoring there, as Shwaluk never stopped running on a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring from second as
Emily Tatur reached on an infield single to take a 1-0 lead.
Christians would be summoned in the third, striking out her second batter after giving up a leadoff infield single. An error and a walk would fill the bases, but
Makenna Waldow would nail a runner out at home on a fielder's choice before a flyout to
Lileya Kebos to keep the Bears scoreless.
Each team would trade zeros in the fourth, and Bloomfield would knot the game at one in the fifth with a two out single through the right side.
The Mustangs would regain the lead in the sixth when Russell would send a drive off the centerfield fence. The centerfielder would fall over the temporary fence, allowing Russell to wheel all the way around, scoring
Patia Wolfe in the process.
After Christians sent the Bears down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the offense would open the game up in the seventh, as
Jillian Noel would send a two-run shot over the center field fence before Waldow would drive in Bull with an RBI double to take a 6-1 lead that would hold.
The Mustangs will close out their day at 12:30 p.m. CST, taking on Grand Valley State.
