SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team opened Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference play on Wednesday dropping a pair of games at the University of Sioux Falls by scores of 11-10 in 11 innings and 7-0 at Sherman Park.

SMSU, playing its first games since March 8, falls to 5-12 overall, 0-2 NSIC, while USF improves to 17-8, 2-0 NSIC, and extends its winning streak to 14 straight.

Wednesday was the first of three straight days SMSU will play at Sherman Park after having to relocate games scheduled for Marshall this weekend. The Mustangs will face Upper Iowa today and Winona State on Friday.

In game one, Sydney Nieveen belted a walk-off home run to lead-off the 11th inning to give the Cougars the victory.

The two teams combined for 21 runs, 32 hits and seven errors in the game.

The Mustangs closed the game with 15 hits and were led by Abbie Decker and Sara DeSmet, who both finished 3 for 6, while Emma Grote, Kaylee Hentges and Madysson Schliinz each finished with two hits. It was the first career three-hit game for DeSmet and the fourth of Decker’s career.

The win capped a comeback by the Cougars who trailed 10-8 entering the bottom of the seventh inning before rallying for two runs to send the game into extra innings.

SMSU trailed 3-0 to start the game before rallying to take its first lead of the game in the sixth inning at 8-6. USF pushed across two runs in the sixth to tie the game, but SMSU regained the lead in the seventh at 10-8.

Trailing 6-5 in the sixth inning, SMSU rallied as Decker singled to start the frame and Grote reached via fielder’s choice on a sac bunt to put two runners on base. Following a ground out, Bailey Johnson smacked a three-run home run to left centerfield-her first long ball of the season-to give SMSU an 8-6 advantage.

USF quickly rallied to tie the game in home half of the sixth on back-to-back solo home runs.

SMSU went back in front in the seventh scoring two runs on two hits and three USF errors. Decker hit an RBI single to score DeSmet for the first run, before Schliinz made it 10-8 by racing across the plate on a wild pitch. SMSU had a chance to pick up much needed insurance runs but a ground out ended the inning with the bases loaded.

USF had another answer in the bottom of the seventh plating a pair of runs to send the game to extra frames.

Shelby Crank started for SMSU in the circle and lasted three innings allowing six runs (four earned) on nine hits. Athena Golling pitched three innings and allowed two runs on two hits, while Megan Cull (0-4) tossed the final four innings and allowed three runs on six hits to suffer the loss.

The 11-inning game was the longest played by SMSU since a 15-inning tie versus St. Cloud State on April 6, 2014.

In game two, Breanna Black fired a seven-hit shutout with three strikeouts and one walk to pace the Cougars.

USF used the momentum from game one by scoring two runs in the first and three more in the third to keep its winning streak alive.

Golling (2-4) took the loss for SMSU tossing 2 1/3 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) with one strikeout.

Seven different Mustangs collected one hit in the setback.

Southwest Minnesota State and Upper Iowa (13-9, 0-2 NSIC) will begin today’s doubleheader at 2 p.m.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications