SMSU SOFTBALL: Sharp start

Mustangs open conference play and home schedule with doubleheader sweep over the University of Sioux Falls

MARSHALL - The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team hasn't been able to get off on the right foot in its recent conference openers, particularly against the University of Sioux Falls.

In the past three seasons, the Cougars have controlled the series between the two teams, going 5-1 in that span.

Thanks to a combination of solid pitching, stifling defense and an effective offense, the Mustangs changed those misfortunes Tuesday afternoon, as SMSU took down USF 3-1 in their opener before earning a come-from-behind 4-3 victory in the nightcap for their first doubleheader sweep against the Cougars in program history. The wins also marked the first sweep in a conference opener for SMSU since the 2012 season.

SMSU coach Bailey Bouman said they did a great job of putting the ball in play and making the necessary adjustments throughout the day against the Cougars.

"The big thing for us that we pride ourselves on is putting the ball in play and overall on the day, we did a great job of putting the ball in play," Bouman said. "You've got to give a ton of credit to USF, they've got great hitters and pitching like the rest of the conference but our girls did a good job of chipping away and making adjustments and our pitchers threw strikes."

Game 1

In the opener, the Mustangs were able to set the tone early and in a big way, as Madison Krog drilled a solo home run to right-center in the bottom half of the second to put SMSU up 1-0.

After the Cougars went down in order in the third, SMSU added to its lead in the bottom of the frame. Emma Grote got things started with a one-out single before putting herself in scoring position on a stolen base. After a popout, Bailey Johnson stepped up and connected on an RBI double before Kali Tomlinson added to the scoring with a bloop single that landed just inside fair territory to bring the Mustangs' advantage to 3-0.

USF wouldn't go down without a fight, as the Cougars got a string of two-out singles to plate a run and cut the deficit to 3-1 after four. But that would be the closest USF got, though, as a strong outing from SMSU starter Athena Golling silenced the Cougars' bats en route to the opening win. Golling finished with six strikeouts and allowed just one unearned run on six hits in a complete game effort, her seventh of the season.

Krog led the way offensively in game 1 for the Mustangs, going 2 for 2 with a home run and an RBI while Johnson and Tomlinson both had a hit and an RBI. Grote and Abbie Decker also collected a hit apiece for SMSU.

Game 2

Looking to carry over their momentum from game 1, the Mustangs quickly were forced to make some adjustments in the nightcap as USF struck for three runs, including a two-run home run, to race out to a quick 3-0 lead after a half inning of play.

Bouman said their recent trip to Florida was a big factor for their team in just knowing how to adjust against different types of pitching and was pleased to see her players continue to battle.

"I think our trip to Florida helped us a ton with being able to see different pitching and understand how to adjust, so I just think they did a really good job of seeing their pitch and just kind of battling through it," Bouman said. "They're a very resilient group."

Undeterred, SMSU was able to get on the board with a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the third. After a fielder's choice put Madysson Schliinz on first with one out, Grote smacked a line drive that bounced its way past the glove of the centerfielder to the fence for an RBI triple. Decker then brought in Grote with a sacrifice bunt to bring SMSU to within one at 3-2 after three.

The Mustangs weren't done there on the offensive end, as Kaylee Hentges opened up the fifth with a ground-rule double before Grote out-hustled a ground ball for an infield single to put runners on the corners with one out. Decker would tie things up at 3-3 thanks to a sacrifice fly, before Johnson crushed a ball to deep center that landed off the fence as the leftfielder raced around the bases for an RBI triple to give SMSU the one-run lead and ultimately the win to cap off the sweep.

Lileya Kebos led the way in game 2 with a perfect 3 for 3 at the plate while Grote added a couple of hits and an RBI. Decker and Johnson also combined for three RBI on the game as well.

Megan Cull picked up the win in relief for the Mustangs, tossing four innings while allowing no runs and no hits while striking out four. Shelby Crank started the game, throwing three innings while strking out four and giving up three runs on three hits.

Spreading out

the offense

As a team, the Mustangs finished the afternoon with 14 total hits to score seven runs in the two games. SMSU also had eight different players record a hit on the day, including four collecting two or more hits.

Bouman was pleased to see multiple players step up throughout the day and they just focused on the little things.

"It was so great to see different kids step up in both games and I think offensively they just did the little things right," Bouman said. "They focused on just putting the ball in play, and when you put the ball in play, good things happen."

Locking down

on defense

SMSU's defense was an even bigger key in Tuesday's victories. The Mustangs only allowed one run on six hits in the opener, but it was game 2 where SMSU came alive out in the field. After USF's strong first inning that saw three runs come across, the Mustangs retired 20 of the Cougars' final 21 hitters in the game, including sending down 15 straight.

Johnson said their key on defense was maintaining a high level of energy as well as constantly communicating.

"I think just keeping our energy up the whole time and always talking," Johnson said. "We had a lot of fly balls and with the wind blowing out, it was kind of tough to judge some of them and I thought we did a really good job of communicating and if we made a mistake, we bounced back and went and got the next one."

SMSU was able to flash the leather on multiple occassions, including in the final inning of game 2 when freshman catcher Kaylea Van Regenmorter made a diving grab off a pop-up on a bunt attempt for the first out with the tying run aboard for USF.

"Our defense did a great job all day and made the plays when the ball was hit to them and Kaylea makes a big play at the end of the game for a diving catch off a bunt, so very proud overall," Bouman said. "The big thing too was that our pitchers got ahead and they were efficient. Whenever you're ahead and you're efficient and playing with good pace, it always helps everything else out."

Home sweet home

Tuesday's game also marked the home opener for the Mustangs after playing their first 12 games on the road. Playing on a converted Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center, SMSU was able to get in their first game at home thanks to the efforts from multiple athletic programs. Bouman was appreciative of the effort from their SMSU athletic family to come and help shovel snow off the field last week.

"It's really awesome," Bouman said. "We're very thankful to all of the athletic programs at SMSU for helping us come out and shovel, it looks really good."

Up next

SMSU (7-7 overall, 2-0 NSIC) will continue its homestand this weekend, starting with a doubleheader against the University of Minnesota Crookston on Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. before facing Bemidji State University on Sunday at noon and 2 p.m.

Bouman said their biggest takeaway is knowing they can battle in every game and that they can carry that over throughout the rest of the season.

"I think that we're definitely able to battle," Bouman said. "Being down in the second game, we did a good job of battling back and fighting through the whole game, so I think that's something we can take through the season is to constantly understand how to chip away at games."

Game 1

SMSU 3, USF 1

USF 000 100 0 - 1 6 0

SMSU 012 000 x - 3 6 2

HITTING: SMSU (Grote 1-3, R; Decker 1-3; Johnson 1-3, RBI, R; Tomlinson 1-3, RBI; Krog 2-2, HR, RBI, BB, R).

PITCHING (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): SMSU (Golling 7-1-0-6-2-6).

Game 2

SMSU 4, USF 3

USF 300 000 0 - 3 3 0

SMSU 002 020 x - 4 8 0

HITTING: SMSU (Grote 2-3, RBI, 2 R; Decker 0-1, 2 RBI; Johnson 1-3, RBI; Kebos 3-3; Van Regenmorter 1-3; Hentges 1-2, BB, R; Schliinz 0-2, R).

PITCHING (IP-R-ER-H-BB-SO): SMSU (Crank 3-3-3-3-0-3; Cull 4-0-0-0-1-4).