ROCHESTER — The No. 7-seeded Southwest Minnesota State University softball team opened Day 1 of the 2021 Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament, splitting a pair of games. After begining the day with a 4-1 win over No. 10 Northern State University, the Mustangs were defeated by Minnesota State University, 6-0.

SMSU got a dominant pitching performance from Shelby Bloemendaal in the opener. The sophomore pitcher went the complete game and allowed one run on eight hits with four strikeouts. It was Bloemendaal’s 11th complete game of the season.

The Mustangs offense recorded six hits in the win. Jillian Noel led SMSU with two hits, while Emma Grote, Madison Krog, Kaylee Hentges and Makenna Waldow each had one hit for the Mustangs.

SMSU opened the scoring in the first inning, as Grote reached on a one-out infield single. She scored moments later as Kali Tomlinson ripped a ground ball that was misplayed by the NSU shortstop to allow Grote to score all the way from first.

After Noel led off the inning with a single, pinch runner Lauren Klein moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a sac bunt by Hentges. With two outs, Klein sprinted home on passed ball to give the Mustangs a 2-0 lead

The score remained 2-0 until the sixth. Krog started the inning with a double and was replaced at second by pinch-runner Molly Bull. Lileya Kebos followed with a sac bunt. The throw got away from the NSU first baseman to allow Kebos to reach and Bull to score. After a ground out moved Kebos to second, Hentges ripped a double to right field to score Kebos and increase the lead to 4-0.

SMSU was blanked 6-0 by MSU in the second game of the day, only recording four hits in the loss.

Bloemendaal started, allowing five runs (four earned) on six hits with three strikeouts and three walks.

Tomlinson led SMSU, going 2 for 3 at the plate. The Mustangs will continue play this morning against either No. 3 Winona State University. First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m.