Photo by Samantha Davis: Southwest Minnesota State University's Morgan Alar (left) safely steals third base in the second game of a doubleheader against Bemidji State on March 28 at Mustang Field in Marshall.

ST. PAUL – Behind a four-run third inning in game two, the Southwest Minnesota State softball team (24-18, 9-6 NSIC) split a doubleheader Friday afternoon with the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears (21-16, 10-4 NSIC), dropping game one 9-3 before taking game two 7-2.

GAME 1

CPS 9, SMSU 3

Ramsey Hopp (8-12) pitched six innings allowing nine earned runs while striking out one batter.

The Mustangs were led offensively by Grace Anderson with two hits and an RBI. Paris Van Dyke and Lexi Ingalls added one hit and one RBI each.

The Golden Bears were the first team on the board in the second inning, scoring three runs on four hits, including a two RBI single from Alexis Monty.

Anderson’s third home run of the season put the Mustangs on the board in the top of the third.

Danni Sharum followed Anderson’s lead in the bottom half of the next inning for CSP, hitting a solo home run as the Golden Bears scored two runs in the half inning.

Van Dyke’s first home run of the season gave the Mustangs their second run of the game, and Lexi Ingalls added the third with an RBI single up the middle, putting SMSU within two runs after the top of the fourth.

CSP added a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning on two sac-flies after starting the inning with the bases loaded with nobody out.

The Golden Bears extended their lead with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth from Katie Klotz.

Emmy Bowne (9-8) pitched all seven innings for the Golden Bears allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, striking out five batters. Sharum and Gabby Martinez led CSP with three hits, while Monty had three RBIs.

GAME 2

SMSU 7, CSP 2

Jordyn Marsh (16-5) pitched all seven innings, allowing two earned runs on eight hits.

Aliza Acker led SMSU with three hits, while Lexi Ingalls led the way in terms of RBIs with two. Riley Kramolisch had two hits, while four other Mustangs had RBIs.

Acker kicked off game two in style, hitting her fourth home run of the season, and giving the Mustangs a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first.

Grace Anderson doubled the SMSU lead in the top of the second with a single to right field.

CSP tied the game at 2-2 in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of RBI base hits.

The Mustangs followed up in the top of the third inning in a bases loaded situation, with Emma Humpal drawing a walk, Marsh providing an infield single, and Ingalls shooting a base hit to right field. In total, SMSU scored four runs in the top half of the third, leading 6-2.

The Mustangs scored a seventh inning insurance run from a Ramsey Hopp flyout, allowing Acker to score from third.

Tatum Dunlavy started game two for CSP allowing six earned runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings. Abi Carter pitched the last 4 2/3 innings allowing one unearned run on two hits. Lily Burke led the Golden Bears with three hits.

SMSU travels to St. Cloud today for a doubleheader against St. Cloud State beginning at 12 p.m.