SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team ended an eight-game losing streak with two wins against the University of Sioux Falls Wednesday afternoon in a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games. The Mustangs won the first matchup 4-1 before exploding for a 10-1 victory in the second game. 

Through both games, SMSU finished with 21 hits, 12 RBIs and zero errors to the Cougars’ eight hits, two RBIs and three errors. 

Karlie Miller pitched the entirety of the first game, and was credited with the win and stands 10-9 on the season. She threw five strikeouts, while allowing two hits, one earned run and one walk through her 24 batters faced. 

USF’s Maddi Duncan was on the mound for the first game, throwing eight strikeouts while allowing eight hits and three earned runs in her 31 batters faced. 

In the second game, Morgyn Otte and Jordyn Marsh shared the mound for SMSU, pitching four and three innings respectively. 

Otte (8-8) was given the win after throwing five strikeouts, and allowing one hit with no runs through 15 batters. Marsh had two strikeouts, five hits and one earned one. 

The Cougars’ Lauryn Foudree and Gracie Johnson also split pitching duties in the second, pitching three and four innings. Johnson threw the lone strikeout, while the two combined for 10 earned runs and 13 hits.  

Miller also led the bats through the two games with three runs on five hits. Lexi Ingalls had a team-high three RBIs along with two hits and one run, all of which came in game two. 

SMSU will next look to continue the momentum when it returns home to the Mustang Field for a doubleheader on Saturday against MSU Moorhead in two more NSIC games, and will also be Alumni Day. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m. 

Game 1 

SMSU 4, USF 1 

The first game was scoreless up until the fourth inning, when the Mustangs ran in a pair of runs, and did the same in the top of the seventh to seal the win. 

Each of the four runs came from different Mustangs, shared between Abby Russell, Grace Anderson, Brynn Webber and Kaylee Hafermann. Russell, Van Dyke and Miller each had two hits. 

Russell brought in the first one in the top of the fourth inning after getting on base with a single to center field, and advancing to second base off an Anderson single infield toward second. 

Russell ran home with a Van Dyke line drive to right field, followed by Anderson touching home plate moments after with a Miller hit out to center field before USF’s defense could complete the final out. 

The fifth inning was runless, and the Cougars got on the board to cut SMSU’s lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the sixth with a home run over center field from Alannah Naumann. 

Yet, the Mustangs took matters into their own hands with two more runs in the seventh inning to hold off for the win. 

Ingalls was hit by a pitch and given a free base, bringing in Webber as a pinch runner. Hafermann hit a single to center field to advance Webber, and Riley Kramolisch moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. 

Webber ran home on an unearned run off a throwing error by USF’s catcher, and Hafermann was next brought in off a Russell single out to left field to put SMSU up 4-1. 

The Mustangs’ defense was able to hold off any Cougar momentum going in their final at-bat. 

Game 2 

SMSU 10, USF 1 

SMSU separated itself early on in the second game with a three-run second inning, followed up with another pair of runs in each of the next two innings, and finished off in the seventh with another trio of runs. 

Along with Miller’s three runs and Ingall’s three RBIs, Emma Humpal, Anderson and Ingalls all had two hits in the game. 

Anderson was walked and made her way to second base off a Van Dyke sacrifice but in the top of the second inning. 

Anderson went home off a Miller double out to center field for the first run, while Miller followed quickly behind after Ingalls also drilled a hit to left center field. 

Ingalls got the final run of the inning after stealing third, and going home with a Hafermann single to the outfield. 

Both Miller and Van Dyke got on base in the top of the third inning off two singles, and each ran in with an Ingalls hard double out to right field to give SMSU a 5-0 lead. 

The bats stayed alive in the fourth inning for the Mustangs with another two runs, scored by Kramolisch off a throwing error while at third base and Humpal from an Anderson double. 

USF attempted to cut into its deficit in the bottom of the sixth inning with time running down, but was only able to bring in one run off a double from Hannah Soderbeck, who ran home off a following double. 

Three more runs from Miller, Kramolisch and Webber, all coming from RBIs, for the Mustangs in the seventh inning ended the night in good fashion. 

SMSU moves to 24-20 overall on the season and 6-12 in conference play, currently sitting in  10th place in the NSIC of 15 teams. 

The Mustangs will also look to make a push up the standings through their next set of games as the NSIC Tournament approaches, set to begin on April 30th.