WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team wrapped up its spring trip on Wednesday with a pair of matchups at THE Spring Games, falling 3-0 to McKendree (Ill.) before bouncing back with a 2-1 win over Wayne State (Mich.).

In the loss to McKendree, the Bearcats struck in each of the first two innings. The first of the two runs came when Heaven Lawrence hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the frame. She advanced to second when Lauren Harris reached on a fielding error and advanced to third when Olivia Stansbury was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with no outs. She then scored when Payton Baxter reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Karlie Miller limited the damage for the Mustangs by striking out each of the next two batters. Miller finished the night allowing two earned runs and five hits over six innings pitched. She also struck out six batters while walking three and fell to 5-7 on the season.

In the second inning, Jenna Roth hit a leadoff single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Miller forced a fly out and a strikeout but a Harris single to right drove in a run before she got out of the inning with a fly out to right.

Jillian Noel was the only Mustang to reach base more than once in the game, finishing the Mustangs’ first game of the day with a hit, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Abby Russell and Brynn Webber each also singled.

Paige McAllister pitched seven scoreless innings for the Bearcats, allowing three hits and a walk with four strikeouts. The win improved her record to 7-4 on the season.

The Bearcats added one last insurance run in the bottom of the fifth when Harris singled, stole second and advanced to third on a groundout. Baxter walked to provide a double-play opportunity to end the inning but Reagen Cheely hit a sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 3-0 before Miller got out of the inning with a strikeout.

In the day’s second game, SMSU scored twice in the first three innings to capture all the runs it needed in a 2-1 win over Wayne State.

Mikayla Berge singled with one out in the first inning and advanced to third on a Russell single and a Noel flyout. From there, Wayne State made a throwing error trying to tag out Russell at second and Berge capitalized by heading home for the go-ahead run.

Brynn Webber singled and advanced to third in the second inning but the Mustangs weren’t able to capitalize with a run. They finished the job an inning later when Riley Kramolisch reached first on a bunt, advanced to third on a Berge sacrifice bunt and a Russell double, and scored on a Noel sacrifice fly to center field to make the score 2-0.

Morgyn Otte pitched the full seven innings for SMSU, allowing no earned runs on six hits with a pair of walks. She struck out one batter while improving to 4-5 on the year.

Wayne State’s one unearned run came in the top of the seventh. Kennedy Cole reached on a fielding error and consecutive singles by Abby Favela and Mia Hool scored Cole and put two runners on with no outs. Mady Ruczynski’s ground out advanced Hool and Favela to second and third but Otte escaped the inning with a pair of groundouts for the win.

Sydney Long pitched six innings for Wayne State, allowing one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts and a pair of walks. She falls to 4-3 on the season.

SMSU will open up conference play on March 23 with a home doubleheader against Bemidji State. The first game is slated for 1 p.m.