AUBURNDALE, Fla. — The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (7-5) extended its winning streak to six games with an 8-4 victory over No. 10 Trevecca Nazarene (12-3) and a 15-1 victory over Salem University (4-6) on Tuesday afternoon at the Auburndale Softball Complex.

The Mustangs kicked off the game versus Trevecca Nazarene as Bailey Johnson led the Mustangs first chance at the plate with a solo homer to put SMSU up 1-0 on the nationally-ranked TNU.

The Mustangs escaped danger in the top of the second as the Trojans put two runners on two singles to left field, but would strand both as Emma Grote would snag the ball in center to end the inning on a flyout.

In the bottom of the second, the Mustangs advanced the lead as Madysson Schliinz laid down a sac bunt to score Kristen Neumann, pinch runner for Krog. The Mustangs held their 2-0 lead until the top of the fifth when TNU would come back to reverse the lead with a go-ahead double to right center to put them on top at 3-2.

TNU would earn a cushion in the lead in the top of the sixth after loading the bases and walking in a runner for a 4-2 lead.

The Mustangs owned the sixth inning as Jillian Noel sparked it off with a single through the left side. After Lileya Kebos walked to put two runners on base, Madison Krog laid down a sac bunt to put the two runners in scoring position.

Kaylee Hentges walked to load the bases and Lauren Klein, runner for Noel, would come in on a fielding error as the Mustangs trailed 4-3 with bases loaded and one out. Kebos was then out at home as Schliinz hit into a fielder’s choice. With two outs, the fun had just begun for the Mustangs with bases loaded.

Johnson, who finished the game 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBIs, sent a two-run single to right field to score Bull and Hentges to take the 5-4 lead. A single from Grote would bring in Schliinz while a single from Kali Tomlinson would bring two runners across for a 7-4 lead.

Noel, who led the team with three hits and one RBI, brought in the final runner on a double to left field.

Megan Cull earned the start in the circle tossing 5 1/3 innings with one strike out but Makayla Hoselton earned the victory in the circle coming in to pitch in the sixth and not allowing an earned run.

It was the first time the Mustangs have defeated a ranked team since April 4, 2015, when SMSU defeated No. 12 Augustana, 6-1.

SMSU’s bats came out hot in the game following versus Salem to post three runs in the top of the first. The Mustangs would score in every top-half with eight runs in the second, one in the third and fifth, and two in the fourth. SMSU strung together 15 runs off 15 hits and committing only one error.

Alli Christians (3-1) earned the victory in the circle tossing all five innings with five strikeouts.

Emma Grote led the Mustangs going 3-for-4 at the plate with one run and two RBIs.

SMSU will take a break from The Spring Games to travel to play an away double header today at the University of Tampa at 4 and 6 p.m. EDT, in Tampa, Fla., at the Naimoli Family Softball Field.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications