ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team came up short in a pair of losses to Minnesota Duluth, 7-0 and 5-4, in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader played inside the Husky Dome on Sunday.
SMSU is now 22-20 overall and 4-12 in the NSIC, while UMD sits at 28-12 on the year and 8-4 in conference play.
The Bulldogs used a four-run fourth inning to gain control of game one and never looked back in cruising to a 7-0 victory.
The Mustangs were out-hitting the Bulldogs 4-1 through the first three innings until the UMD offense gathered steam in the bottom of the fourth. Three consecutive singles to start the inning plated the first Bulldog run before a pair of two-out walks kept the frame alive for pinch hitter Taylor Tschida. The following play resulted in a throwing error to first base, permitting another pair of runs to cross the plate and extend the lead to 3-0.
The fourth run of the inning scored following a successful double steal from first and third.
UMD kept its foot on the gas in the fifth using back-to-back singles paired with a double down the left field line to put UMD in a comfortable 6-0 lead. An RBI single scored the game's final run in the bottom of the sixth.
Karlie Miller (9-9) was dealt the loss in game one after allowing seven runs (four earned) on nine hits and three walks, while grabbing six strikeouts in a complete game. SMSU was limited to six hits in the opener, with
Riley Kramolisch and
Abby Boxrud each recording a pair of hits.
The SMSU offense turned it up in game two, ultimately coming up short in a two-out rally at the end of the game.
UMD capitalized on a bases-loaded walk to plate the second game's first run before a bases-clearing double down the right field line put the Bulldogs up 4-0 with only one out in the second inning.
A passed ball and wild pitch scored the final UMD run as a strikeout and flyout ended the inning.
The Mustangs began their comeback in the third, with
Lexi Ingalls doubling to center field to get SMSU started.
Kaylee Hafermann singled through the left side to put runners on the corners, and in the following at bat,
Riley Kramolisch singled up the middle to plate Ingalls and trim the lead to four runs.
Boxrud and
Abby Russell each followed with singles to score the second SMSU run before a strikeout ended the inning.
Emma Humpal drove in the third run off a groundout in the fifth, before the Mustangs again came up short.
Jordyn Marsh limited UMD to only one hit after the second inning to aid in the comeback effort.
The final inning saw SMSU gather three hits in a last-ditch attempt to tie the game before a flyout closed the game.
Morgyn Otte (7-8) was given the loss in game two after allowing four runs on two hits and four walks in 1 1/3 innings.
Jordyn Marsh tossed the final 4 2/3 innings in relief, limiting the Bulldogs to one run and two hits, while striking out three.
SMSU is back in action on Wednesday, April 9, playing a doubleheader on the road versus Sioux Falls, with start time TBA.
