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WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (8-8) used late inning production to top Bloomfield College (1-3) 6-1 on Monday morning at DiamondPlex B.
The Mustangs would out-hit the Bears 10-7, as Abby Russell, Jillian Noel, and Molly Bull each had multi-hit games. Russell and Noel would each hit two-run home runs, while Bull would score a run and steal a base.
Allison Christians (1-0) would come in the third inning, going five innings, allowing one earned run on four hits and four walks while striking out a season-high six batters. Morgyn Otte would get the start, going shutout innings, allowing two hits and a walk while striking out one.
Each team would load the bases in the first, as the Mustangs would do so with two outs and the Bears would do it with just an out. Each pitcher would wiggle their way out of trouble, keeping the game scoreless through one.
Paige Shwaluk would start a two-run rally in the second, singling through the left side and advancing to second as Abby Russell reached on an error.
The Mustangs would open the scoring there, as Shwaluk never stopped running on a ground ball to the shortstop, scoring from second as Emily Tatur reached on an infield single to take a 1-0 lead.
Christians would be summoned in the third, striking out her second batter after giving up a leadoff infield single. An error and a walk would fill the bases, but Makenna Waldow would nail a runner out at home on a fielder's choice before a flyout to Lileya Kebos to keep the Bears scoreless.
Each team would trade zeros in the fourth, and Bloomfield would knot the game at one in the fifth with a two out single through the right side.
The Mustangs would regain the lead in the sixth when Russell would send a drive off the centerfield fence. The centerfielder would fall over the temporary fence, allowing Russell to wheel all the way around, scoring Patia Wolfe in the process.
After Christians sent the Bears down in order in the bottom of the sixth, the offense would open the game up in the seventh, as Jillian Noel would send a two-run shot over the center field fence before Waldow would drive in Bull with an RBI double to take a 6-1 lead that would hold.
No. 7 Grand Valley State 15, SMSU 8
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (8-9) would battle in a game in which the score was not indicative to the competitive play, falling to No. 7 Grand Valley State (8-0) 15-8 on Monday afternoon at DiamondPlex C.
The Mustangs would collect eight hits, as Abby Russell would go 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles and runs scored, and Bailey Johnson would go 2 for 3 with a pair of walks to lead the way offensively.
GVSU opened the scoring in the first, scoring on a sacrifice bunt and stealing home off of a walk to jump to a 2-0 lead.
SMSU would strike right back as an Abby Russell double, Emily Tatur single, and Bailey Jonson single would jumpstart the Mustangs and cut the GVSU lead in half at 2-1.
Jillian Noel would drive in a run in the next at bat, as the third baseman would opt to get Johnson at second but would throw the ball away to keep everyone safe and get Tatur home to tie it up.
After a Lileya Kebos walk, Molly Bull would deliver a sac fly to give SMSU a 3-2 lead, and Makenna Waldow would wear a pitch off the shin with the bases loaded to give SMSU a 4-2 lead.
GVSU loaded the bases with one out in the third after some walks on close pitches, and after an RBI single to move everyone up a base, the Lakers would hit a grand slam to left to give themselves a 7-4 lead.
After back-to-back outs to open the bottom of the fourth, Paige Shwaluk would draw a walk, allowing Russell the chance inch the Mustangs closer with a double to the right center gap, driving in Shwaluk to trail 7-5.
GVSU would add six runs in the fouth, fifth and sixth to take a 13-5 lead, but with their backs against the wall, the Mustangs would continue to fight, scoring three runs in the sixth to narrow the gap to 13-8.
GVSU would add a pair in the seventh and would shut the door in the bottom of the inning to close the game out.
Karlie Miller (2-6) would get dealt the loss, giving up 15 runs (all earned) on 15 hits and nine walks, striking out five in a game were strike calls were kept at a premium.
The Mustangs will get an off day today, and will be back on the diamond for a pair of games on Wednesday starting at 1:30 p.m. CST against Palm Beach Atlantic before a 4 p.m. CST start against American International.
-- Content courtesy
of SMSU Athletic
Communications