Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications SMSU’s Abbie Decker connects on a two-run home run during their NSIC Tournament game against Upper Iowa University on Thursday in Rochester.

ROCHESTER – After a hot-hitting game earlier in the day, the ninth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State softball team (19-25) went cold in a 7-0 shutout to No. 2 seed Augustana at the RYSFA Complex on Thursday afternoon in the second round of the NSIC Tournament.

No. 9 SMSU faced No. 2 Augustana after a 13-hit comeback victory over No. 8 seed, Upper Iowa, in the play-in game of the double elimination tournament.

The Vikings outhit the Mustangs 15 to 3 in the 7-0 shutout.

Emma Grote started the top of the first with a single up the middle but was caught stealing to clear the bases. Both teams then struggled to bring a runner in until the bottom of the third when Augie broke open the game with a huge seven-hit, five-run inning.

Augie scored the first two runs on a two RBI double to right center, followed by an RBI single to a 3-0 lead.

SMSU’s Shelby Crank took the circle with no outs to give up a two RBI double down the right field line as the Augie’s advanced the lead to 5-0 with three complete.

Augie’s Mary Pardo hit a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth for a 6-0 lead.

The Mustangs tried to get things going in the top of the fifth as Abbie Decker started the inning with a single through the left side but a strikeout and a double play would cut the inning short.

Augie strung together another run in the bottom of the fifth with a one run, two hit inning.

In the Mustangs’ final chance, a groundout, fly ball to left, and a strikeout would end the game.

SMSU’s Megan Cull (5-10) suffered the loss in the circle, retiring after two innings.

SMSU 9, UIU 7

ROCHESTER – Down one run heading into the final inning, the ninth-seeded Southwest Minnesota State softball team (19-24) strung together five hits to score three runs for a 9-7 comeback victory over the eighth-seeded Upper Iowa, at the RYFSA Complex in Rochester, in Game 1 of the NSIC Tournament.

Upper Iowa jumped to an early lead scoring in the first inning and every inning until the bottom of the seventh.

Kali Tomlinson put the Mustangs on the board in the top of the fourth with a two-run home run, but UIU answered in the bottom of the inning with a run to build a 4-2 lead.

Upper Iowa had a lead all the way until the sixth inning when SMSU’s Abbie Decker hit a three-run homer in the top of the sixth to gain SMSU’s first lead of the game going up 6-5.

The Peacocks would not go down as they responded with a two-run bottom of the sixth to regain the lead at 7-6.

Familiar with the comeback fight already in the game, Madysson Schliinz started the seventh inning with a bunt single to put a runner on. With Emma Grote on first base with one out, Kaylee Hentges stepped to the plate with a single down the right field line to advance Grote to third. Bailey Johnson followed with an RBI single down the left field line to score Grote and tie the game back up at 7-7.

The Mustangs kept it rolling with a single from Tomlinson to load the bases. Decker then hit into a fielder’s choice as Hentges was out at home for the second out. Alex Reak then came through with two-run single to the shortstop to score the final two runs needed as Johnson and Tomlinson came full circle.

The Peacocks scored in every inning except the bottom of the seventh. Up until the fifth inning, UIU scraped together one run each inning, all with two outs.

The Mustangs out-hit the Peacocks 13 to 11 led by Johnson who went 3-for-4 at the plate with three runs and two RBIs.

Shelby Crank earned the victory in the circle tossing three innings of relief.

Ninth seed Southwest Minnesota State will face third-seeded Minnesota Duluth at 10 a.m. today at the RYSFA Complex to continue play in the double-elimination NSIC Tournament.

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