SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team kicked off day one of the 2024 Mustang Invitational by splitting a doubleheader with William Jewell (Mo.), winning game one 7-1, before losing game two 10-2 on Sunday inside the ASB Sports Complex, in Sioux Center, Iowa. 

SMSU drops to 2-3 overall, while WJC jumps to 3-4 overall on the season.

Game One (7-1, SMSU)

Karlie Miller (2-1) pitched a gem in game one, allowing six hits and one run while striking out six in six innings. The Cardinals' Avery Reynolds (2-3) was dealt the loss in game one, giving up five hits and five runs (three earned) with three walks. 

SMSU totaled eight hits between five batters. Molly Bull led the charge going 2 for 3 at the plate with 3 RBIs in the win. Jillian Noel followed closely behind, also going 2 for 3 at the dish, including a triple with two RBIs. Riley Kramolisch also earned two hits in the affair.

WJC tallied six hits in the loss with Amanda Chung and Sophia Lopez both grabbing two hits.

The Mustangs got to work immediately, with Webber putting Kramolisch in scoring position off a SAC bunt. Russell would get on base with a walk and both runners would be advanced into scoring position for Molly Bull. Bull scored both runners with a zipping grounder to right field to give SMSU a 2-0 lead after one inning. 

The next set of runs for SMSU came in the third inning. With two outs in the inning, Russell walked to get on base. Noel singled to third to advance Russell to second before Molly Bull drove in the run with a single to center field. With the bases loaded, Paige Ahrendt drove a single up the middle to score two, pushing the lead to 5-0 after three innings.

The Mustangs scored its final pair of runs in the fourth inning. With two down and runners on the corners, Jillian Noel gapped a ball in right-center field for a triple and scored both. 

WJC scored its lonely run in the top of the sixth inning. Jordan Bussey closed the game in the seventh inning by retiring the side in order, giving SMSU the 7-1 victory. 

Game Two (10-2, 6th, WJC)

William Jewell flipped the script in game two, defeating the Mustangs in six innings via run-rule.

Morgyn Otte (0-2) was tabbed with the loss in game two, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits and five walks. The Cardinals' Olivia Wood (2-1) snagged the win after pitching a complete game. Wood allowed two runs (both earned) on three hits while striking out five.

Jillian Noel, Brynn Webber, and Abby Russell all tallied one hit for the Mustangs. Noel homered to left field in the fourth inning, the first Mustang home run of the season.

WJC piled on four runs before the fourth inning in building a 4-0 advantage halfway through the game. With two outs in the top of the fourth, Noel got ahold of one and sent it deep over the left-field wall to cut the deficit to three runs.

The Cardinals tallied two more runs in the fifth inning to push the lead back to four runs at a score of 6-2. SMSU responded with one run in the top of the sixth, after Abby Russell tripled to right field to score Brynn Webber.

WJC poured on the final four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, giving the Cardinals the 10-2 win.

UP NEXT

SMSU resumes play tomorrow, hosting Truman State (Mo.) in a doubleheader in Sioux Center, Iowa, with game one scheduled for 11:30 a.m.