TAMPA, Fla. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (5-12) fought hard against the No. 4-ranked Tampa Spartans (18-4), ultimately falling 6-2 in game one and 8-0 in game two of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at the Naimoli Family Softball Field.
Tampa scored three runs in the first and two more in the fourth inning of game one to take a 5-2 lead that lasted through the remainder of the game.
Riley Kramolisch opened the fourth inning with a left-field single, followed by a sac bunt from
Mikayla Berge that advanced Kramolisch to third, putting runners on the corners for
Abby Russell, the first threat of the day for the Mustangs.
Russell would open the scoring with an RBI single to left field and Berge scored a few pitches later on a
Jillian Noel single to cut into the Spartan lead, 5-2.
The Spartans countered in the bottom half of the inning, using a critical Mustang error and single to center field to get a run back and take a 6-2 lead.
Both sides were retired in order in the following inning, but Tampa kicked back into gear in the sixth. With two outs and one runner on base, Kinnah Kreidler knocked a base hit to right field that plated the final Spartan run.
Karlie Miller (3-6) battled against the No. 4-ranked Spartans, allowing six runs (four earned) on 11 hits, walking two, and picking up a strikeout in a complete game.
The Mustangs tallied five hits, with Noel and Russell each picking up an RBI to lead the bats. SMSU struck out nine times.
The Spartans were in control throughout game two, scoring five runs in the first two innings and one more in the fifth, and never looked back to close out the sweep.
Morgyn Otte (2-4) was dealt the loss, pitching five innings and allowing eight runs (two earned) on six hits and six walks while striking out two.
Jordan Bussey entered in relief in the sixth inning, allowing two runs on four walks in one inning.
Mariah Galhouse (8-1) was stellar in the circle for Tampa in game two, allowing just five hits and striking out four in a complete game shutout.
SMSU strung together five hits in the game two loss, with five Mustangs each recording a hit.
SMSU returns to the field on Monday morning in Winter Haven, Fla., continuing play in THE Spring Games against American International College (Mass.) at 9 a.m., and Northwood (Mich.) at 11:30 a.m. Both games are listed in Central Standard Time.
