LEESBURG, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs extended its winning streak to three, taking down Kentucky Wesleyan 3-2 in nine innings before defeating Walsh 4-1 on Sunday afternoon at Sleepy Hollow complex for their first games at THE Spring Games.
Morgyn Otte (1-2) was solid throughout game one, striking out the side in the first inning and didn't allow a base hit until the fourth inning. She struck out nine batters while allowing just three hits though the first seven innings.
The scoring didn't begin until the eighth inning, when KWC benefitted from the international tiebreaker. Starting with a runner on second, the Panthers were able to move the runner to third on a sac bunt before driving it in with a single through the left side, taking a 1-0 lead.
The damage was done there, as
Molly Bull and Otte connected to record an out at home after a wild pitch, and a pop out to
Abby Russell ended the half inning.
The Mustangs countered in the bottom of the inning, using a sac bunt of their own and a sac fly from Russell to even the score at 1-1.
After a two-out single gave KWC the lead back in the ninth, SMSU went to work.
Molly Bull worked a full count walk to open the inning, and
Abby Boxrud sent a single to right to fill the bases with nobody out.
Katie Palmer came through to even the score, blooping a fielder's choice over the middle to score the tying run and put runners on the corners with two outs.
This time, it was
Makenna Waldow that came through, singling to right field, scoring Bull for the walk off winner.
Otte finished the game throwing a career-high nine innings, allowing seven hits and a pair of unearned runs, walking two and striking out a career-best 11.
The Mustangs collected six hits between six players, striking out just four times.
In game two, Walsh jumped out with the early lead. The Cavaliers took advantage of a walk, producing a two-out RBI single to go ahead 1-0.
In the bottom of the second inning, it was SMSU that did two out damage. With the bases loaded, the Musangs evened the score with a wild pitch. It was Waldow, again, providing a clutch moment, sending a single to right two pitches later to take a 3-1 lead.
The Mustangs concluded the scoring in the fourth, as
Paige Ahrendt sent a single through the left side to score Noel and bring the game to its final score.
Karlie Miller (1-2) slammed the door in the final three innings, allowing just one hit to cap off the victory.
Miller threw seven innings and allowed just the one first inning run on five hits, allowing five hits, and walking four while striking out three.
The Mustangs scattered seven hits in game two, again having seven different players record them, and struck out just twice.
SMSU heads to St. Petersburg, Fla., Monday afternoon, taking on Eckard College for a doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. ET
