WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team returned to play in THE Spring Games on Monday, first grabbing a 3-0 win over American International College (Mass.) and then dropping a close game 2-1 to Northwood University (Mich.) at the DiamondPlex.
SMSU moves to 6-13 on the year and is now 3-5 at THE Spring Games.
Karlie Miller (4-6) dominated the Yellow Jackets in game won, earning the victory in a complete game shutout, allowing just six hits and three walks while striking out a season-high eight batters. Riley Sullivan (0-1) was dealt the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks while tallying five strikeouts.
SMSU got the scoring started in the first game by squeaking out a run in the second inning with two outs.
Brynn Webber reached on a fielder's choice and stole second base the following play to put herself in scoring position for
Karlie Miller. Miller hit a hard ball on the ground that was scooped and then overthrown by the third baseman, scoring Webber and sending Miller to third.
SMSU set its eyes ahead to the later half of the game, tacking on an insurance run in the sixth inning.
Abby Russell got the inning started by drawing a walk and then stealing second base. Again with two outs,
Molly Bull doubled to left field to score Russell and push the Mustang lead to 2-0.
Riley Kramolisch added the final SMSU run in the top of the seventh by singling through the right side to score
Abby Boxrud. The Mustangs held the Yellow Jackets scoreless through the remainder of play.
SMSU totaled five hits in the contest, with Kramolisch and Bull each recording an RBI. The Mustangs struck out five times.
Morgyn Otte (2-5) fought hard against the Timberwolves in game two, ultimately falling short. In a complete game, the junior allowed two runs on six hits, striking out four. Emily Cox (4-1) earned the victory for NU by allowing one run on just two hits and a walk while striking out five.
SMSU again kicked off the scoring after putting runners on the corners. On a bait-and-switch steal, the NU catcher overthrew second base, promptly sending
Grace Anderson home from third.
All momentum for SMSU stalled there.
In the fifth inning, NU rallied down two outs. The Timberwolves put runners on first and second off two singles and cashed in a run on a single through the right side by Jillian Krawczak. The Timberwolves completed the comeback in the top of the sixth, using a home run to left field to take the 2-1 lead. SMSU was retired in order in the following two innings to close out the game.
The Mustangs collected just two hits and struck out five times in game two.
Brynn Webber and
Grace Anderson were the only two Mustangs to record a hit.
SMSU continues play in THE Spring Games tomorrow, first facing off with Lake Erie (Pa.) at 9:15 a.m., then taking on Southern Connecticut State at 11:15 a.m., at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven, Fla.
