ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team poured in four seventh-inning runs to take game one 6-5, before falling 0-4 in game two against the Regis (Colo.) Rangers in a doubleheader played inside the Husky Dome on Saturday.
SMSU earned its first win of the season to move to 1-5 overall while RU, a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), sits at 1-6 on the season.
In game one Regis struck first by stealing home in the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.
SMSU responded in the second inning, starting with
Brynn Webber hitting her second triple of the season to put a runner on third with only one out.
Lexi Ingalls drove in Webber on a sac fly in the following at-bat to tie the game.
A quiet third inning previewed an offensive resurgence for the Rangers in the top of the fourth. RU placed two runners on base before back-to-back strikeouts seemed to be putting a close to the inning. A hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Ariana Ybarra, who hit a bases-clearing double that put SMSU down by three.
The Mustangs scored a run in the fifth to cut into the deficit, but the Rangers would cancel out the attempt by adding another run in the top of the seventh.
The bats got hot at the right time for SMSU as three consecutive singles scored a run and kept two runners in scoring position with just one out. The next Mustang run came on a passed ball in the following at-bat before
Abby Boxrud drove a single to left field to plate the fifth run and tie the game at 5-5.
Boxrud stole second and
Emma Humpal drew a walk to once again put two SMSU runners on base before
Brynn Webber zipped a ball into left field to score Boxrud and walk off the game.
Karlie Miller (1-2) was given the win in game one after striking out seven in a complete game while allowing five runs (four earned).
SMSU totaled eight hits in the win with
Riley Kramolisch and
Brynn Webber each going 2 for 4 at the dish with an RBI, while
Abby Russell finished 1 for 1 and drew three walks.
SMSU was limited to four hits in the 0-4 game two loss. Regis held control for the entirety of the second game scoring two runs in the first and a pair of runs in the fourth and never looked back.
Morgyn Otte (0-2) was tabbed with the loss in game two after allowing four runs on six hits and two walks.
Jordyn Marsh threw the final two innings in relief holding the Rangers hitless while picking up a strikeout.
SMSU is back in action next weekend with a pair of non-conference doubleheaders at the Mustang Invitational against Truman State (Mo.) and Quincy (Ill.)
