TOPEKA, Kan. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team closed out day two of the Washburn Invitational, dropping a pair to Emporia State, 7-4, and Northwest Missouri State, 12-9, on Saturday afternoon.
The Mustangs trailed 5-1 through four innings against Emporia State (9-5), but strung together a rally in the fifth, scoring three runs to cut the deficit to 5-4. The Hornets closed the game scoring the final two runs to bring the game to its final score.
In game two, NWMSU (7-5) scored two runs in the second, five in the third, and one in the fourth inning to take an 8-0 lead into the fifth inning.
Abby Russell opened the fifth inning with a single before back-to-back walks to
Abby Boxrud and
Molly Bull loaded the bases with nobody out.
Jillian Noel began the rally, reaching on an error to drive in Russell.
Riley Kramolisch tacked on a run while reaching on a fielder's choice, and
Paige Ahrendt delivered a two-out RBI single to right field, bringing SMSU within five at 8-3.
The Bearcats responded in the top of the sixth inning with their second grand slam of the game for their largest lead of the game at 12-3.
SMSU refused to go away, as Boxrud drew a leadoff walk, Noel doubled down the right field line, and Kramolisch drove them both home with a single to the opposite field to trail 12-5.
They didn't quit then, either, opening the seventh with a trio of walks before an RBI single from Boxrud drove in
Makenna Waldow to make it 12-6.
After a Bearcat pitching change, the Mustangs took advantage of a NWMSU throwing error, scoring a pair of runs to get within four, and Noel drove in a run on a groundout three pitches later to cut the deficit to 12-9, but the next two SMSU hitters would be sent down to end the game.
SMSU scattered 10 hits in the second game, with
Shelby Bloemendaal going 3 for 5 and Kramolisch going 2 for 4 with three RBI to lead the offense.
SMSU concludes its weekend on Sunday, taking on Missouri-St. Louis at 11:30 a.m., before facing the host, Washburn, at 3:30 p.m.
