MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (13-20 overall, 5-5 NSIC) used strong pitching and timely hitting to sweep Northern State University (9-23, 1-9) 7-2 and 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at Mustang Field on the campus of Southwest Minnesota State University. 
 
SMSU would outhit NSU 7-6 in the first game, with Jillian Noel and Bailey Johnson each picking up a pair of hits in the middle of the order to lead the offense. 
 
The Mustangs would open the scoring in the second inning of game one, using a walk and a pair of errors on sacrifice bunts to take a 1-0 lead. Mckenna Waldow would drive in Lileya Kebos on a groundout to make it 2-0, and then Paige Shwaluk would deliver a sacrifice fly to right to take a 3-0 lead. 
 
Bailey Johnson and Jillian Noel would each single in the third inning and, with two outs, Kebos would drive them in with a single up the middle to take a 5-0 lead. 
 
NSU would score a run in the top of the fourth inning, but Noel would get the run back and add another in the bottom of the inning with a two-run blast over the right field fence on the first pitch she saw to jump to a 7-1 lead. 
 
The Wolves would add a run in the sixth inning, but it would not be enough to overcome the deficit. 
 
Shelby Bloemendaal (7-6) would keep the Wolves in check, going six innings and allowing a pair of runs (one earned) on six hits and a walk while striking out four in just 78 pitches. Morgyn Otte would be summoned in the seventh, sending NSU down in order while striking out a pair to close the game out. 
 
Game two would not see a run until the fifth inning, with NSU scoring on a two-out error and the Mustangs would break through in the bottom of the inning as Bailey Johnson would send a bases clearing double down the left field line, scoring Waldow, Shwaluk, and Russell to provide all the offense for the game. 
 
NSU would get at least one runner in scoring position in six of seven innings, but Karlie Miller (5-9) would navigate through the first five innings before Allison Christians (S, 2) would slam the door on a comeback hope with the go-ahead run at the plate in the seventh. 
 
Miller would finish the game giving up an unearned run on six hits and a pair of walks while striking out three in the five innings of work, while Christians would throw the final two frames, giving up two hits and a walk while striking out two for her second save in as many appearances. 
 
NSU would outhit SMSU 8-5 in game two, but would leave 11 runners on base. Russell would have two of the five Mustang hits, with Johnson, Waldow, and Shwaluk each picking up a hit. 
 
The Mustangs are back in action on Sunday, welcoming the Dragons of MSU Moorhead to Mustang Field for a doubleheader starting at noon.