MARSHALL, Minn. - The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team opened conference play with a split against Minnesota Crookston on Friday afternoon on Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.
SMSU is 19-9 overall and 1-1 in conference play, while UMC is 13-16 overall and 1-1 NSIC.
Game One (9-8, SMSU)
Jordyn Marsh (6-2) earned the win in game one, allowing no hits with two walks while striking out two batters in 3 1/3 relief innings. The Golden Eagles' Sydney McMurdie was dealt the loss in game one, giving up six hits and five earned runs.
The Mustangs got the bats going quickly in game one, starting with a Riley Kramolisch single before advancing to second off a wild pitch. Abby Russell singled to right field to plate Kramolisch and moved around the bases to third before eventually scoring off a groundout by Paris Van Dyke.
SMSU would retire UMC's batters in quick fashion to get back on offense.
Karlie Miller opened the second inning with a single before Lexi Ingalls doubled to right field to put Miller in scoring position. Kaylee Hafermann singled to center field to bring home Miller and forced a pitching change for the Golden Eagles.
That would not deter the Mustangs as Abby Boxrud singled to left field to put SMSU ahead 4-0 before Russell would triple to right field to add two more runs. The final run of the inning came from a SAC fly by Emma Humpal that put the Mustangs up 7-0.
UMC used a single then a pair of walks to put a runner on third, the Golden Eagles would score from a SAC fly.
The Mustangs kept momentum going into the top half of the third inning, using a pair of singles before a fielding error would score the final two runs to put SMSU up 9-1.
The Golden Eagles gained momentum in the bottom of the third using a single and walk to place runners on first and second. Both UMC runners would steal their respective bases and score a run from a wild pitch before using a ground out to cut the Mustangs lead to six runs.
UMC capitalized on a pair of walks and a fielding error to load the bases in the bottom half of the fourth inning. The Golden Eagles would score two runs from another fielding error before adding two more off a single to right field. UMC's final run of the inning came from an error by the shortstop to cut SMSU's lead to one run.
SMSU totaled 12 hits with Abby Boxrud leading the bats going 3 for 4 at the plate and one RBI, while Abby Russell tallied three RBIs.
Game Two (6-5, UMC)
Morgyn Otte (6-3) was dealt the loss in game two, surrendering five hits while striking out a pair in five innings. UMC's Delaney Penner earned the win, giving up five hits, one earned run, and striking out two batters.
Similar to game one, the Mustangs got on the board early using a single by Kramolisch before advancing to third and scoring on a SAC fly by Humpal.
The Golden Eagles would score a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning from two errors to take a 2-1 lead.
Van Dyke walked to open the fourth inning before a clutch double by Grace Anderson tied the game at two runs apiece.
UMC would score three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to retake the lead.
The Mustangs did not give up and would capitalize on a pair of walks before a throwing error would score the first run in the sixth inning. Kramolisch would ground out to second baseman to score a second run and cut the deficit to one.
The Golden Eagles hit an inside the park home run to in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-5.
Russell tripled to right field before another SAC fly by Humpal would score a run, but the comeback efforts would stall by the Mustangs.
SMSU tallied five hits in game two with Grace Anderson leading the bats going 2 for 3 at the plate and recorded three RBIs.
The Mustangs are back in action at home on Saturday, March 22 with a doubleheader against Bemidji State with the first pitch slated for 12 p.m.
