ABERDEEN, S.D. – Kali Tomlinson finished 3 for 3, drove in a career-high five RBIs, including belting a three-run home run, to pace Southwest Minnesota State to an 11-3 victory in five innings over Northern State in game two of a non-conference softball doubleheader on Sunday afternoon. SMSU was held to four hits in the opener as NSU used a two-out, run-scoring double in the bottom of the seventh to earn a 2-1 victory. Both games were played inside the Presentation College Dome.

In game two, NSU (9-5) struck first with a solo run in the top of the first but SMSU quickly rallied and never looked back in earning its second run-rule victory of the season. Jillian Noel started the scoring in the home half of the first with a two-run single to score Emma Grote and Tomlinson. Kaylee Hentges pushed across the third run of the inning with an RBI ground out to score Noel.

The Mustangs (7-3) blew the game open in the second as Tomlinson connected on a two-run double, while Madison Krog capped the big inning with a three-run homer over the right-center field fence to extend the lead to 8-1.

Shelby Bloemendaal and Bailey Johnson singled in the third inning to start another rally before Tomlinson blasted a three-run homer to make the score 11-1. It was Tomlinson’s 20th career home run moving her into a tie with Christine Borowiak for fourth place in program history.

The run support was plenty for Bloemendaal (2-1) in the circle for the Mustangs, as she scattered seven hits in five innings with one strikeout and no walks.

SMSU closed the game with 11 hits as Tomlinson finished with three and Bloemendaal added two hits. Johnson and Grote each scored two runs with Tomlinson crossing the plate three times.

In game one, NSU put together a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single and a walk-off double to earn the win. With two outs in the seventh, NSU’s Chanel Siebenthal singled and moments later Kennady Thompson smacked an opposite-field double down the right field line to push across the game-winning run.

Megan Cull (4-1) tossed the complete for SMSU in the circle allowing two runs on six hits with six strikeouts and three walks.

SMSU scored its lone run in the top of the first as Grote singled and later came around to score on a single by Lileya Kebos.

The Mustang offense was held in check for much of the remainder of the game by Wolves pitcher Meghan Anderson but did put together a threat in the top of the seventh. With one out, Krog walked and Hentges reached via an error to put two runners on base. A wild pitched moved both runners up, but a pair of strikeouts ended the rally and kept the game tied.

SMSU was limited to a season-low four hits with Grote collecting two, while Kebos and Madysson Schliinz each with one.

Southwest Minnesota State continues non-conference play on Friday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader at undefeated St. Cloud State (8-0) inside the Husky Dome.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications