SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team (10-23 overall, 5-9 NSIC) notched 17 hits and rode solid pitching to sweep the University of Mary (5-28, 0-14) by scores of 11-3 in five innings and 5-1 on an extremely windy Sunday afternoon at the Sanford Sports Complex. The games were moved to Sioux Falls following unexpected snow hit Marshall overnight.
The Mustangs had four players with multi-hit games in game one, as
Abby Russell,
Jillian Noel, and
Paige Ahrendt each smacked a pair, and
Molly Bull went 3-3 en route to victory in a shortened game one.
In the bottom of the first inning, SMSU opened the scoring. Following a
Shelby Bloemendaal walk with one out, Russell sent a line drive to right center, wheeling to third and scoring Bloemendaal to take a 1-0 lead.
Two pitches later, Noel crushed a two-run home run over the right centerfield fence to grow the lead to 3-0.
UMary threatened the lead in the top of the third, loading the bases after a pair of errors, but Bloemendaal worked around it to keep the Marauders scoreless.
In the bottom of the inning, the Mustang bats came alive. After another Bloemendaal walk led the inning off, Russell doubled to right center, bringing her home and taking a 4-0 lead.
With one out, Bull brought her home, doubling to left field, and after an
Abby Boxrud walk, Ahrendt doubled down the right field line, scoring both Bull and Boxrud, and taking a 7-0 advantage.
The Marauders countered, scoring three in the top of the fourth to get within four runs.
After the first two Mustangs were retired in the bottom of the fourth, the bats rose again. After a Russell walk, Noel singled to get runners on the corners. Noel advanced to second on the throw, and Bull brought them both home with a single up the middle.
The inning stayed alive following a run-scoring error off the bat of Boxrud, and Ahrendt singled up the middle to conclude the damage and bring the game to its final score.
Bloemendaal (2-5) allowed three earned runs on eight hits in five innings, walking none and striking out none on 76 pitches.
Karlie Miller (4-8) threw her second gem in as many outings in game two, going the distance in game two and allowing just one earned run on four hits and three walks while striking out eight.
Bull went 2-3 with an RBI and two runs scored in game two, while six other Mustangs recorded a hit to add to the offense.
Mustang small ball got SMSU on the board in the second inning, with a Bull leadoff single, stolen base, and advancement on a dropped third strike getting her 60 feet away from the plate with one out. Ahrendt was able to drive her home with a groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
The roof was blown open in the third inning, as a
Riley Kramolisch triple down the right field line led off the inning, and a one-out Russell bunt was dropped well enough to reach first while scoring Kramolisch and doubling the lead to 2-0.
Noel knocked a double to left center on the next pitch, and Russell was brought home on a Bull single to make it 3-0.
Boxrud brought home Noel on a groundout two pitches later, and after two more pitches, Ahrendt singled through the right side, scoring Bull and capping off a four run third to give SMSU a 5-0 lead.
Miller was on cruise control early, twirling four no-hit innings and facing just one over the minimum through five.
The Marauders were able to produce a run following a leadoff triple in the sixth, and got a pair in scoring position with one out, but Miller fielded a comebacker for the second out and recorded a strikeout to close the inning and the threat.
UMary was able to get the tying run in the box after a pair of two-out walks loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but Miller forced a ground ball, fielder's choice to end the game.
The Mustangs return to Marshall on Monday, hosting Minot State at 12 p.m.
