SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team traveled to Sioux Falls, S.D., for a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader on Wednesday dropping a pair of games to No. 1 Augustana University by scores of 10-2 and 9-1.

Augustana improves to 23-3 overall, 11-1 NSIC, while SMSU drops to 16-10 overall, 7-5 NSIC.

In game one, the Mustangs opened with an early 2-0 lead in the first inning with Lileya Kebos singling to center field and bringing home Emma Grote and Kali Tomlinson. The Vikings would answer back in the bottom of the first with a solo home run from Mary Pardo.

In the third inning Augustana would hit its stride and score four runs which included two home runs for and building a 5-2 lead.

Augustana would go onto score five more runs, including one in the fourth, two in the fifth and the remaining two in the bottom of the sixth inning to win via run-rule.

Megan Cull (8-3) started for the Mustangs in the circle and finished with three strikeouts and allowed nine hits and seven runs (five earned) in 4 1/3 innings. Tory Villotta pitched the final 1 1/3 inning recording a strikeout.

Tomlinson led the four-hit Mustang effort with two hits in the opener.

In game two, SMSU would again open the scoring with Bailey Johnson smacking her third home run of the season to put the Mustangs up 1-0.

The Vikings would follow up in the second inning with their own solo home run from Delaney Young.

Augustana would keep its momentum in the third inning with two runs and in the fourth inning would keep its foot on the gas scoring four more runs to build the lead to 7-1. The Vikings would add a two-run homer in the fifth to end the game via run-rule.

Johnson finished game two collecting three hits, with Tomlinson, Molly Bull and Shelby Bloemendaal each finishing with one hit.

Bloemendaal (4-4) started and pitched 4 2/3 innings, allowing 11 hits and nine runs.

Southwest Minnesota State will be back in action on Saturday at MSU Moorhead with a doubleheader slated for 1 p.m.

— Content courtesy

of SMSU Athletic

Communications