MARSHALL, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (14-25 overall, 9-11 NSIC) celebrated senior day in style, winning 2-1 in nine innings and 3-1 to earn a sweep on Sunday afternoon at Mustang Field. 
 
Three seniors were recognized prior to the game, as Shelby Bloemendaal, Allison Christians, and Alisha Leber each enter their final home weekend as members of the Mustangs. 
 
It was the first doubleheader sweep for SMSU over the Huskies since the 2016 season. 
 
The Mustangs were lights out in the circle, allowing just eight hits and one earned run in 16 innings to shut down the Huskies' bats. 
 
In game one, SMSU grinded out the first run of the game. Bloemendaal ripped a single to left field to lead off the inning, with Abby Russell and Jillian Noel each reaching base via bunts. 
 
With one out and the bases loaded, Katie Palmer wore a 0-1 pitch in the arm, bringing in Bloemendaal and giving the Mustangs a 1-0 lead. 
 
SCSU was able to produce a run in the sixth inning with a two-out single, tying the score, but Bloemendaal navigated around another single to limit the damage and keep the score tied. 
 
The Mustangs looked to close the game in the seventh inning, but weren't able to convert off a leadoff double, sending the game to extras. 
 
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Makenna Waldow attempted to give SMSU life, turning an 0-2 count into a six-pitch walk to reach base. Riley Kramolisch kept it rolling with a single to right, and Bloemendaal drew a walk to load the bases. 
 
For the second game in a row, it was Russell who played the hero, dropping a pop fly in front of the left fielder to bring home Waldow to walk-off the Huskies in game one. 
 
It was a senior day to remember in the circle, as Bloemendaal went seven strong innings, allowing an unearned run on four hits and one walk while striking out three, and Allison Christians (6-3) earned the win after allowing just one hit and facing seven batters in the final two innings. 
 
Bloemendaal also had a strong game offensively, tallying two of the seven Mustang hits. 
 
In game two, the Mustangs scored first again, with Noel knocking a two-out single through the left side to bring home Bloemendaal and go ahead 1-0. 
 
The Mustangs went on to manufacture a run without a hit in the second inning, using a walk, sac bunt, and two-out error to double their lead at 2-0. 
 
In the fourth, Katie Palmer reached on an infield single before advancing to second on a bunt. Waldow tacked on the insurance run with a two-out single to center, allowing Palmer to score the third run of the game. 
 
SCSU scraped a run across without a hit in the sixth, bringing the game to its final score. 
 
Karlie Miller (5-9) continued a stellar stretch in the circle, allowing a run on three hits and three walks while striking out five. She allowed a hit in each of the first three innings before silencing SCSU's bats in the final four innings. 
 
Seven of nine Mustang starters had a hit in game two, leading a balanced effort en route to the sweep. 
 
The Mustangs welcome NSIC-leading Minnesota Duluth to Mustang Field on Monday afternoon for a doubleheader starting at noon.