WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team shined on its first day of THE Spring Games, taking down Goldey-Beacom (Del.) 6-3 in eight innings before locking in a 7-0 shutout victory over Concord (W. Va.) on Monday at the DiamondPlex.
Karlie Miller (3-2) was solid throughout game one, retiring the side in order in the second inning and didn't allow a base hit until the third inning. She struck out two batters while allowing just four hits in a complete game.
The scoring didn't kick off in the second inning when SMSU benefitted from a throwing error. With two outs and runners on first and second, the Lightning catcher overthrew the third baseman on an SMSU double-steal to score
Jillian Noel from second.
The Lightning countered in the bottom of the third inning, using a double from Bryn Bohmann that plated two to take the lead at 2-1. GBC tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth before the Mustangs started their comeback.
GBC held the Mustangs to two hits for the following three innings until SMSU clutched up in the seventh.
Paige Ahrendt commenced the rally with a leadoff single to left-center field and was followed by
Karlie Miller, who filled the flex role well by drawing a walk to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. Ahrendt and Miller were both pinch-ran for by
Paris Van Dyke and
Mikayla Berge.
Makenna Waldow laid down a sac bunt to advance Van Dyke and Berge to second and third, but Van Dyke got caught in a rundown between third and home.
Emma Humpal entered as a pinch runner for Waldow.
Riley Kramolisch stepped up to the plate and delivered arguably the biggest hit of the game for the Mustangs, driving in both runners to tie the game at 3-3.
Miller got back to work in the bottom of the seventh, holding off the Lightning's attempt at a walk-off.
The international tiebreaker came into effect in extra innings, placing
Abby Russell on second base with
Jillian Noel at the plate. Noel reached first on an infield blooper and advanced Russell to third.
Molly Bull scored the game-winning run on a single to center field. The last two SMSU runs would come from wild pitches.
Miller earned the win in game one, pitching a complete game, allowing four hits and three runs, walking four, and striking out two.
The Mustangs collected nine hits between six players and struck out eight times. Noel led the charge going 3 for 4 at the dish, while Kramolisch went 2 for 3 with two RBIs.
In game two, SMSU jumped out with the early lead and never looked back. In addition to the offense,
Morgyn Otte (1-2) The Mustangs took advantage of a fielding error to start, as
Abby Russell smashed a double to left field to advance Webber to third, bringing
Jillian Noel up to bat. Noel lasered a ball through the middle of the infield to drive in both runners and give SMSU the 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning,
Abby Boxrud and
Paige Ahrendt established the foundation of the inning with back-to-back singles to lead off.
Paris Van Dyke lined a ball over the second baseman's head to drive in Boxrud and push the margin to three runs. With two outs and the bases loaded,
Abby Russell again got a big hit to plate Webber and Waldow and move the lead to 5-0.
The Mustangs concluded the scoring in the fifth, as
Abby Boxrud singled to left field to score Russell and
Paige Ahrendt sent a single through the left side to score Bull and bring the game to its final score.
Morgyn Otte had a career performance on Monday, throwing a complete game shutout and allowing just four hits while striking out three.
The Mustangs scattered eleven hits in game two between seven batters, with Noel and Russell both collecting a pair of hits and a pair of RBIs in the win.
SMSU continues THE Spring Games on Tuesday afternoon, taking on West Virginia Wesleyan at 2:45 p.m., before facing off with No. 5-ranked Grand Valley State at 5 p.m., at the DiamondPlex in Winter Haven, Fla. Both games are listed in central standard time.
