Photo courtesy of SMSU Athletic Communications SMSU’s Kaylee Hentges awaits a pitch during their NSIC Tournament game against the University of Minnesota Duluth on Friday in Rochester. The Mustangs fell 8-3 to bring their season to a close.

ROCHESTER – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (19-26) closed its season with an 8-3 loss to Minnesota Duluth (32-19) on Friday afternoon at the RYSFA Complex in the NSIC Tournament.

The Mustangs came out swinging in the top of the first as Kaylee Hentges singled to get on base and was advanced to third by a double from Bailey Johnson. Kali Tomlinson reached on a fielder’s choice but would do the trick for SMSU as Hentges came home to go on the board with a 1-0 lead.

SMSU got the first two outs in the bottom of the first and looked to retire the third batter, when UMD singled to right field to put a runner on base.

UMD then followed with a two-run homer past the center field fence to finish the first inning with a 2-1 lead.

The Mustangs again came out swinging in the top of the second with a double from Alex Reak down the left field line and a single from Kaylea Van Regenmorter would put the Mustangs on first and third with no outs. SMSU would fail to tie the game up after a double play and a fly ball to right would end their second inning chance.

The Bulldogs took advantage of another two-out situation in the bottom of the second after Athena Golling and the Mustangs retired the first two batters with a ground out to the pitcher and a strikeout would get the first two outs. UMD hit a single to put a runner on before a two RBI single to center would score two runs to advance lead to 4-1 after two complete.

The Mustangs and Bulldogs played into two scoreless innings in the third and the fourth before UMD hit another two-run home run to advance lead to 6-1 after the fifth.

SMSU came back to attempt to rally in the top of the sixth with an RBI double to left from Abbie Decker to score Tomlinson. The Mustangs brought another runner in with a sac fly from Reak to score Decker.

However, the Bulldogs capitalized the victory with an RBI single and a sac fly to score the final two runners for the 8-3 victory.

Both Decker and Hentges led the team with two hits a piece.

Athena Golling (11-12) started in the circle to suffer the loss tossing four innings with two strikeouts.

Friday’s game was the final game for SMSU seniors Abbie Decker, Shelby Crank, Sara DeSmet, Athena Golling, and Alex Reak. SMSU’s seniors finished their seasons all four years at the NSIC Tournament.

Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications