WINTER HAVEN, Fla.- The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (8-9) would battle in a game in which the score was not indicative to the competitive play, falling to No. 7 Grand Valley State (8-0) 15-8 on Monday afternoon at DiamondPlex C.
 
The Mustangs would collect eight hits, as Abby Russell would go 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and runs scored, and Bailey Johnson would go 2 for 3 with a pair of walks to lead the way offensively. 
 
GVSU opened the scoring in the first, scoring on a sacrifice bunt and stealing home off of a walk to jump to a 2-0 lead. 
 
SMSU would strike right back as an Abby Russell double, Emily Tatur single, and Bailey Jonson single would jumpstart the Mustangs and cut the GVSU lead in half at 2-1. 
 
Jillian Noel would drive in a run in the next at bat, as the third baseman would opt to get Johnson at second but would throw the ball away to keep everyone safe and get Tatur home to tie it up. 
 
After a Lileya Kebos walk, Molly Bull would deliver a sac fly to give SMSU a 3-2 lead, and Makenna Waldow would wear a pitch off the shin with the bases loaded to give SMSU a 4-2 lead. 
 
GVSU loaded the bases with one out in the third after some walks on close pitches, and after an RBI single to move everyone up a base, the Lakers would hit a grand slam to left to give themselves a 7-4 lead. 
 
After back-to-back outs to open the bottom of the fourth, Paige Shwaluk would draw a walk, allowing Russell the chance inch the Mustangs closer with a double to the right center gap, driving in Shwaluk to trail 7-5. 
 
GVSU would add six runs in the fouth, fifth and sixth to take a 13-5 lead, but with their backs against the wall, the Mustangs would continue to fight, scoring three runs in the sixth to narrow the gap to 13-8. 
 
GVSU would add a pair in the seventh and would shut the door in the bottom of the inning to close the game out. 
 
Karlie Miller (2-6) would get dealt the loss, giving up 15 runs (all earned) on 15 hits and nine walks, striking out five in a game were strike calls were kept at a premium. 
 
The Mustangs will get an off day on Tuesday, and will be back on the diamond for a pair of games on Wednesday, Mar. 9, starting at 1:30 p.m. CST against Palm Beach Atlantic before a 4 p.m. CST start against American International.