Photo by Sam Thiel SMSU’s Bailey Johnson swings through on a grand slam during game one of their doubleheader against Wayne State College on Wednesday. The Mustangs defeated the Wildcats 7-1 and 3-2.

MARSHALL – The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team knew if there was going to be any chance of them making the NSIC Tournament next week, they were going to have to put on a display on both sides of the field against Wayne State College to keep their season alive.

The Mustangs broke out the bats on offense and shut down the Wildcats in the circle, and earned a key doubleheader sweep with wins of 7-1 and 3-2 on Wednesday at Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center.

In the opener, SMSU was able to get things going to start as the Mustangs used three consecutive singles from Emma Grote, Bailey Johnson and Kali Tomlinson to load the bases before Grote scored on a fielder’s choice from Mackenzie Clouse to take an early 1-0 lead.

Wayne State wasted little time getting back into the game in the next inning, as the Wildcats got a one-out triple from Rachel Shumaker and an RBI single from Abbie Hix to tie things up at one in the second.

Both teams would settle into their respective zones over the next few innings, as the score remained deadlocked going into the bottom of the fifth. That’s when the Mustangs broke out the bats, going around the batting order in the inning to plate six runs and take the lead for good.

Madison Krog kicked off the inning with a single before advancing to third on a bunt by Alex Reak and an error by the Wildcats on Reak’s bunt, putting runners on the corners with nobody out. After Sara DeSmet reached on a bunt to load the bases, Krog would score on a bizarre sequence.

Abbie Decker had worked her at bat to a 2-2 count and held off on the ensuing pitch and headed towards first base thinking she had drawn a walk. SMSU’s baserunners all advanced up a base, and by the time both teams realized it was only ball three, Krog had already scored from third and given SMSU the lead back at 2-1.

Decker would eventually draw a walk anyways, and Grote stepped up and delivered an RBI single to make it 3-1. Then with one swing of the bat, Johnson turned the game back into the Mustangs’ favor. The freshman turned on a 3-2 pitch and drilled a deep fly ball to right-center that landed on the sloping hill of the Regional Event Center for a grand slam, pushing the score to 7-1. Johnson’s home run was her third of the season and the first grand slam for the Mustangs this year.

SMSU starter Megan Cull would shut down Wayne State in the final two innings to seal the opening victory. The sophomore pitcher went all seven innings, allowing just one run on eight hits while tying her career-high in strikeouts with 11.

Johnson and Grote led the way offensively for the Mustangs, picking up three hits each while Johnson drove in four runs and Grote brought in one.

In the nightcap, it was Wayne State who jumped out of the scoring gates with a run in the top of the first. SMSU would answer right back, though, getting a run of its own thanks to an RBI single from Johnson to tie things at one after the first inning of play.

The Mustangs would add to their lead in the next inning, getting back-to-back singles from Kaylee Hentges and Krog before Decker brought in a run on a two-out single to take a 2-1 lead.

Wayne State had an opportunity to score with the bases loaded and no outs in the top of the third, but SMSU got out of the jam thanks to an unassisted double play from Hentges and a key strikeout from Athena Golling to maintain the lead.

After a scoreless fourth, the Wildcats would string together a two-out single before getting a pair of stolen bases and an RBI single to tie things again at 2-2. It wouldn’t take long for SMSU to respond, as Decker led off the bottom of the fifth with a single before Tomlinson delivered a two-out RBI double to give the Mustangs back the lead at 3-2.

Neither team would score in the sixth before Golling capped off the sweep with a 1-2-3 seventh by striking out the side.

Golling finished with a complete game effort, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out 10.

SMSU coach Jamie Dunn said it was great to earn some key victories at home and was proud of the pitching staff to give themselves a chance.

“We knew it was going to be a tough homestand so it was great to get some wins here. Wayne has beat some really good teams this year, so we knew it was going to be a battle. I’m really proud of our effort, especially in the circle,” Dunn said. “Our pitching staff just turned a corner this weekend; 11 strikeouts for both pitchers on Monday against Duluth and that was impressive and then to come back out and do it again after having four games pretty much back-to-back. Really proud of the pitching staff and it’s battery and Kenzie is the other half of that and she stuck some pitches that produced some strikeouts. When you have good pitching and solid hitting, it’s a little easier to make bounce back from your mistakes.”

Krog and Decker finished game two with two hits apiece. SMSU racked up 19 total hits on the day, led by four hits each from Grote and Johnson.

Johnson said offensively, they were a little too aggressive right away in their at bats, but once they made adjustments they were able to find the open parts of the field and get some extra-base hits.

“At first we were just trying to be aggressive and hitting that first pitch because it was right there every time and that wasn’t really working out for us,” Johnson said. “Then we all scooted back in the box and that seemed to be working really well and we were hitting the gaps more after we adjusted.”

Defensively, each team only committed one error apiece on the day. Clouse said they were able to make the plays in the big moments when they happened.

“We definitely did what we needed to do,” Clouse said. “There’s still some things that we need to clean up and there were some shots right at us that we missed, but we made the plays that were important for that minute.”

Cull finished the opener with 107 total pitches, with 72 of them going for strikes. Golling finished with 117 pitches, including 82 strikes. Dunn said it’s been fun to watch the two pitchers step up to the moment after one of their starters, Shelby Crank, went down with a concussion and has been out the last six games.

“Megan had 11 strikeouts and Athena had 10 (on Wednesday); that’s big-time pitching. Like I said on Monday, anytime your defense has to get 10 or 11 outs a game, you put yourself in a good position to win,” Dunn said. “It was good that we came out with that tight victory in game two and the pitching turned the corner this weekend. With Shelby (Crank) going down with her concussion, it forced somebody to step up and that person’s been Megan. I hope it can continue going into the weekend and just keep doing what we’re doing. They’ve matured a little bit in the last week, so it’s been fun.”

Wednesday’s game also marked the final home game for SMSU’s lone senior in Clouse. The veteran catcher gave credit to coach Dunn and the staff at SMSU for helping guide her to where she is today and it was a great way to cap her final home game with a pair of wins on the football field.

“Coach (Dunn) has taught me everything I know. I had a good high school career but I didn’t learn anything until I came to SMSU. Whatever effort or whatever comes from me in games is pretty much up to coach Dunn, Kelsey (Gale) and Jess (Vernon). They do so much for us and they’re constantly working with us on and off the field and in our academics,” Clouse said. “I wouldn’t have my successes without coach Dunn and it’s just been a great four years and it was kind of a fun way to end out here on the football field; it was a fun atmosphere. It was kind of a bummer that we can’t be out on Mustang Field, but we had three great years out there.”

SMSU (13-22) will head into its final road trip of the regular season this weekend, traveling to Bemidji State University and University of Minnesota Crookston. With just four games left to decide their postseason fate, Dunn wants her team to carry the same level of confidence they brought the last couple of games into the final stretch.

“I think just taking confidence into the weekend knowing that the only thing that’s a guarantee is that we have four games left. If we take care of business for us and make a little run, hopefully we can make the conference tournament,” Dunn said. “We won’t know until probably the last day like usual, but they’ve got the confidence and that look in their eye. Pitching staff if they keep doing what they’re doing and we keep the sticks moving we have a good shot at it.”