AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team suffered a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to College of Staten Island (N.Y.), and a 7-1 loss to Notre Dame College (Ohio) on Wednesday at the Auburndale Softball Complex.

SMSU is now 4-9 on the season and 2-4 at THE Spring Games.

In game one, Staten Island jumped out to an early lead with a home run to center field on the third pitch of the first inning. 

After neither team found success in the batter's box over the next two innings, CSI planted runners on the corners after a fielding error at second base. A wild pitch advanced the runner from first to second before a groundout plated the runner from third to give the Dolphins a 2-0 lead after the top half of the third inning.

The Mustangs gained their first bit of traction in the bottom half of the inning. Grace Anderson walked and was pinch-run for by Brynn Webber. Webber stole second and advanced to third after a walk by Paris Van Dyke and Makenna Waldow getting hit by a pitch. With the bases loaded, Riley Kramolisch put a ball on the ground to second base to plate Webber and cut the deficit to 2-1.

Both offenses fell stagnant until CSI put runners on first and third in the top of the sixth inning. Similarly to SMSU in the third inning, the Dolphins used a ground ball to plate their third run of the game.

A last-minute comeback effort would be spurred for SMSU in the bottom of the seventh. Grace Anderson reached first on a throwing error by the Dolphins' pitcher and was pinch-run for by Karlie Miller. Waldow knocked a base hit to advance Miller to second. It was again Riley Kramolisch who came up big for SMSU, driving a ball up the middle to plate Miller and cut the CSI lead to 3-2.

With runners on second and third, Abby Russell lined a ball to right field that seemed deep enough to score the runner from third. However, Avery Mochrie gunned the ball home to catch Waldow at the plate, ending the game in dramatic fashion.

Despite the loss, Karlie Miller (3-4) threw well in the circle, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits, while walking three and striking out five in seven innings. Kennedie Ruth (3-1) earned the win over SMSU, allowing one run on four hits with one strikeout.

SMSU was held to four hits in the loss, with Kramolisch leading the way going 2 for 4. The Mustangs struck out once.

SMSU encountered a handful of fielding issues against NDC, committing five errors in the loss.

Allison Weilnau pitched a gem against the Mustangs, allowing just one run (unearned) on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts. Morgyn Otte (1-3) was handed the loss, but fought a tough battle in the circle, allowing just three earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts and one walk.

NDC plated three runs in the third inning all on errors. With runners on first and second in the sixth a ball was muffed in center field which resulted in both runners scoring. Later in the inning, Katelyn DeWeese doubled to left-center and plated the final two Falcon runs.

The Mustangs collected just four hits once again, with Abby Boxrud going 2 for 3 at the dish. Abby Russell and Riley Kramolisch also tallied a hit.

SMSU transitions back into doubleheader play tomorrow, taking on Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla., with first pitch of game one at 2:00 p.m. CST