WINTER PARK, Fla. – Southwest Minnesota State wrapped up its nine-game road trip through Florida with a pair of losses to Rollins College on Thursday. Rollins scored a pair of runs late to win game one, 4-2, before completing the sweep with an 8-0 victory in game two.

SMSU finished the nine-game stretch with a 2-7 mark against teams all from the state of Florida.

The Mustangs are now 5-10 overall and will return to action on March 17 with a doubleheader at Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.)

In the opener, SMSU trailed 2-0 after three innings, but rallied with a run in the fourth as Emma Grote reached on an error and later scored on an RBI infield single by Kaylee Hentges.

It remained 2-1 until the sixth when Bailey Johnson reached base with a one out single and two batters later Hentges came through with a two-out double to tie the game at 2-2.

The Tars (15-11), picked to finish fourth in the Division II Sunshine State Conference, regained the lead in the home half of the frame with the decisive two-out, two-run single to regain the advantage at 4-2.

Shelby Crank (3-4) started in the circle for SMSU, pitching all six innings and allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk and one strikeout.

Rollins starter Abby Summers held SMSU to five hits with 10 strikeouts to record the complete game win.

SMSU was held in check in game two as Rollins starter Grace Street tossed a six-inning, four-hit shutout with six strikeouts as the game ended in the sixth inning via run-rule.

Mackenzie Clouse had two of SMSU’s hits, while Grote and Hentges each added one hit.

Mustang starting pitcher Athena Golling (2-3) pitched four-plus innings and allowed four runs on six hits.

Hentges led SMSU during the nine-game trip with a .364 batting average with three RBIs. Grote finished the week batting .321 with a team-high nine hits, while Clouse batted .318 with a team-leading three doubles.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications