SIOUX CENTER, IOWA – The Southwest Minnesota State softball team (6-4) ended its four-game stretch of games played in Sioux Center, Iowa, splitting Monday’s doubleheader with the Nebraska-Kearney Lopers (9-8), winning game one 9-1 (5 innings) and dropping game two 4-1.

GAME ONE

Jordyn Marsh (5-0) pitched all five innings for the Mustangs, allowing just one hit with one walk, striking out 10 UNK batters.

Six Mustang batters had two hits in the contest, with freshman Carley Stych leading the team in RBIs with three, and freshman Aliza Acker hitting her first career homerun. Lexi Ingalls drove in two runs, while Emma Humpal, Marsh, and Kennah Bretschneider drove in one run each.

Acker kicked off the run-fest for SMSU in the first hitting a homerun to left centerfield.

In the second inning, Bretschneider singled through the left side allowing Marsh to score, making the score 2-0 after two innings.

Zaria Brigham had the Lopers only hit in the game, a solo home run in the third inning, putting UNK on the board trailing 2-1.

Emma Humpal kicked off a seven run fifth inning for SMSU with a single through the left side allowing Carley Stych to score. Marsh would follow with a single up the middle, with Riley Kramolisch scoring the fourth run of the game.

Lexi Ingalls put two more on the board with a single up the middle, sending both Humpal and Jordan Bussey (pinch running for Marsh) home to make the score 6-1 in favor of SMSU.

Stych would end the game with a bases-clearing double, with Bretschneider, Ingalls, and Paris Van Dyke all scoring, with the score 9-1in favor of the Mustangs.

UNK pitcher Kalli Ulven (0-2) was credited with a loss after going 1 1/3 innings allowing two runs and striking out one Mustang.

GAME TWO

Ramsey Hopp (1-3) pitched all seven innings, allowing four runs (one earned) on ten hits and two walks, fanning five UNK batters.

Contrary to game one, the Mustangs had only three hits in game two, with Riley Kramolisch, Aliza Acker and Paris Van Dyke applying the offense for SMSU.

Acker again was responsible for the first run of the game, grounding out to the UNK shortstop Mary Chvatal, allowing Riley Kramolish to score after she began the game with a triple.

Katie Janssen hit a solo home run to left field in the second inning, tying the game at 1-1 until the seventh inning.

Kalli Ulven hit the Lopers second homerun of the game, and the third of the day, with a three-run blast to center field, making the score 4-1 in favor of UNK. The Mustangs would be unable to muster any more offense in the bottom of the seventh, leading to the Lopers win.

UNK’s Chloe Odle (4-1) was awarded the win after coming off the bench in the fourth inning, pitching the remainder of the game allowing two hits, two walks and no runs with one strikeout.

The Mustangs are off until March 2, playing in THE Spring Games in Clermont, Fla., against Seton Hill (Pa.) and Saint Anselm (N.H.) at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.