LAKELAND, Fla. - The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team poured in five runs in the seventh inning of game two to win 7-0, after falling 3-0 in game one against Florida Southern in a doubleheader on Tuesday evening at Chris Bellotto Field.
SMSU, 16-8 overall, suffers its first loss on its spring trip after the game one rut.
Game One (3-0, FSC)
Karlie Miller (6-4) was dealt the loss in game one, surrendering seven hits and three earned runs while striking out one and walking six in a complete game. The Mocs' Amanda Lieberman earned the victory in game one, giving up six hits while striking out one.
SMSU totaled six hits between six batters.
The game was quiet for both teams until the bottom half of the fourth, when the Mocs used a fielder's choice, a walk, and single to load the bases. The next at-bat would be a single to right field to plate two runs for FSC. FSC scored its third run of the inning with another single.
SMSU was unable to get the bats going and FSC would maintain its 3-0 lead to close out game one.
Game Two (7-0, SMSU)
Morgyn Otte (5-2) earned the win after allowing just four hits in a six-inning shutout performance.
Jordyn Marsh entered in the seventh inning and struck out three batters to close out the game.
A defensive battle kept the game scoreless until the top half of the sixth inning, when the Mustangs would open the scoring.
Abby Boxrud would get the Mustangs started with a single to the left side, followed by an
Abby Russell single.
Paris Van Dyke used a single to right field to plate SMSU's first runner.
Brynn Webber singled to plate another runner and put SMSU up 2-0.
The Mustangs were not done there and would use a five-run seventh inning to put the game out of reach.
Lexi Ingalls started the inning with a double to left center to get into scoring position before crossing the plate off a throwing error. Another single by Russell would score the second run of the inning before another error by FSC kept the inning alive for the Mustangs and gave SMSU another run. The final two runs were off a
Brynn Webber stand-up triple to put SMSU up 7-0.
The Mustangs will conclude THE Spring Games on Wednesday, March 12, with a game against Shepherd (Pa.) at 8 a.m. CDT and a game against Northwood (Mich.) at 12:45 p.m. CDT.