The Southwest Minnesota State University softball team swept the University of Minnesota- Crookston in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader. The Mustangs took the first game 5-2, followed by an easy 11-3 win in the second game.
A single by sophomore infielder Ashley Gigax started the game off, scoring Christine Borowiak and Kris Penick, who had back-to-back singles. After four innings passed without a run from either team, Minnesota-Crookston picked up two runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Following a two-RBI double from Minnesota-Crookston, the Mustangs came back with three runs in the bottom of the inning.
Freshman Alysse Luttmann scored on an RBI single by Morgan Peterson, pinch hitting for Kaley Scearcy, who scored on a single to give the Mustangs a 3-2 lead. A triple by Kasey Eichten scored Peterson to give the Mustangs a two-point advantage. The Mustangs would go on to bring in another run, giving them a 5-2 lead.
Chelsey Evans closed out the game for the Mustangs, earning her seventh victory of the season. Evans finished the game with seven strikeouts, matching her season high.
The Mustangs jumped to an early lead in the second game after scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Borowiak and Penick had back-to-back singles, followed by a Peterson double to bring in two runs. Peterson would go on to score the third run.
Minnesota-Crookston answered with two runs at the top of the second inning, cutting the Mustangs’ lead to 3-2. An RBI single by Gigax, scoring Borowiak, gave the Mustangs a 4-2 lead.
Yet another RBI single by Gigax extended SMSU’s lead to 5-2. Minnesota-Crookston came back with a run of their own in the top of the sixth inning to come within two points of the Mustangs.
Six runs by the Mustangs in the bottom of the sixth earned an 11-3 victory for the Mustangs. Freshman Rachel Hoeppner took the win for the Mustangs, throwing all six innings and picking up four strikeouts.
The Mustangs improve to a record of 14-10 and 5-3 in the NSIC, while Minnesota-Crookston falls to 9-16 and 3-5 in the NSIC.