SIOUX CENTER, Iowa – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team bounced back to secure a 2-1 and 2-0 sweep over the Quincy University Hawks on Sunday evening at the ASB Sports Complex in Sioux Center, Iowa.

SMSU jumps to 3-7 on the season while QU drops to 0-4.

The Mustangs used runs in the third and fourth innings to lead 2-0 and never looked back in closing out the game-one win. 

There was little-to-no action in game one until the top of the third inning when SMSU finally put a run on the board. Kaylee Hafermann got the Mustangs going by drawing a walk and stealing second to put a runner in scoring position with only one out.

A groundout advanced Hafermann to third and Abby Boxrud drew a walk to keep the inning alive. In the following at-bat, Abby Russell roped a line drive into center field to plate Hafermann and give SMSU a 1-0 advantage.

The Mustangs got back to work in the next inning using back-to-back singles and a sac bunt to put a pair of runners in scoring position with one out.

Hafermann loaded the bases with a bunt single and Riley Kramolisch came through in the next at-bat with an RBI groundout to put SMSU up 2-0.

Quincy threatened in the bottom of the sixth inning plating a run with only one out before loading the bases only to be shut down by Jordyn Marsh, who entered the same inning in relief of Karlie Miller. 

SMSU recorded six hits in the win with Brynn Webber leading the bats going 2 for 2 and drawing a walk.

Karlie Miller (2-3) earned the win in game one holding the Hawks scoreless in five innings with a pair of strikeouts. Jordyn Marsh (1) earned her first collegiate save holding off the Hawks in the final two innings with four strikeouts.

Kaelyn Conger (0-1) was tabbed with the loss allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out a pair. 

SMSU started and finished strong in game two, tallying its first run in the first inning and second in the sixth inning.

Riley Kramolisch started the bottom of the first with a single through the right side. She was awarded second base automatically due to infielder obstruction, then advanced to third on a throwing error by the second baseman.

Abby Boxrud came up next and hit a deep fly ball into left field to score Kramolisch and put the Mustangs up early. 

Morgyn Otte held the Hawks to just two hits from the second to sixth inning before Quincy threatened by putting a runner in scoring position with two outs. The threat was stopped abruptly as Otte forced a groundout to get SMSU out of the jam and retain the lead. 

Peyton Verdon entered as a pinch hitter to lead off the bottom of the sixth and drove a ball to the left-field wall for a triple, putting a runner in scoring position with no outs. It would be Riley Kramolisch again coming up big, lining a ball up the middle to score the runner and put the Mustangs up by two.

QU was retired in order in the seventh to end the game.

Morgyn Otte (1-2) tossed a gem with a complete game shutout in the win. Otte allowed just one walk while striking out four.

Kramolisch led SMSU at the plate going 2 for 3 with an RBI.