CLERMONT, Fla. — The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team concluded its spring trip on Wednesday with two wins over Shepherd (Pa.), 4-0, and Northwood (Mich.), 7-0.  

SMSU closes THE Spring Games 14-0 and finishes the spring trip with a record of 15-1 after suffering a loss to Florida Southern. 

Against Shepherd, SMSU did not waste any time to get the scoring started. 

In the top half of the first inning, Abby Boxrud would kick things off with a single to second base. The next at-bat would see an Abby Russell single up the middle to put Boxrud in scoring position before Emma Humpal drove both runners' home off a double to right center to put SMSU up 2-0. The final run of the inning was off a Brynn Webber single through the left side to score Humpal.  

Shepherd would load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second inning, but a clutch 4-6-3 double play would put an end to Shepherd's threat. 

The game fell quiet until the top half of the seventh inning, when Abby Russell would reach first base off a single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Emma Humpal would come through again, singling up the middle to drive in the Mustangs' final run of the game and put SMSU up 4-0. 

The bottom half of the inning saw Shepherd use a walk and a pair of singles to load the bases once again, but came up short. 

Karlie Miller (7-4) earned the win against Shepherd after limiting Shepherd to six hits while striking out one en route to tossing a perfect four-inning shutout. Jordyn Marsh secured her fourth save of the season after entering in the fifth inning, holding the Rams scoreless with just two hits.  

SMSU gathered nine hits in the win with Abby Russell leading the bats going 3 for 4, while Emma Humpal recorded three RBIs. 

Against Northwood, the first inning saw a strong defense, but the Mustangs would take the lead in the bottom half of the second inning.  

Paris Van Dyke got the Mustangs bats going by reaching first on a single before stealing second. Brynn Webber would single up the middle to plate Van Dyke to put SMSU up 1-0. 

Neither team could get its offense going until the Mustangs poured in six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning.  

The Mustangs would use a pair of errors by NU to get two runners on base before Brynn Webber hit a perfectly placed ball into center field for a double to plate one run. The next at-bat saw Grace Anderson single to left field to add another run for SMSU. A single from Lexi Ingalls would score a run before Kaylee Hafermann reached on a fielding error, which led to another run crossing the plate.  

The Mustangs' hot bats would force a pitching change for the Timberwolves, but that did not stop SMSU from plating two more runs to extend its lead to 7-0.  

Morgyn Otte (6-2) grabbed the win against Northwood after limiting NU to two hits while striking out four to toss a five-inning shutout. Jordyn Marsh tossed the final two innings and struck out three batters.  

SMSU collected seven hits in the win with Brynn Webber leading the bats going 2 for 3 while recording two RBIs.  

The Mustangs will begin NSIC action on Saturday, March 22, for a doubleheader against Minnesota Crookston in Crookston, Minn.