SMSU falls to SCSU in make-up games
Southwest Minnesota State’s Women’s Softball team took on St. Cloud State on Sunday the 22 and faced Duluth on Monday the 23.
The games were originally scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Mustang Field. Field conditions forced the games to be rescheduled for Sunday and Monday and relocated to the Mattke Field at the Schwan Regional Event Center. The last time SMSU’s softball team used the Mattke Field was in a doubleheader versus Concordia-St. Paul during the 2013 season. SMSU has also used the field during the 2009 and 2011 season.
The Mustangs’ last six games were cancelled due to weather conditions and last played April 11 at Augustana. The Mustangs went into this weekend tied for 10th place for Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference standings.
St. Cloud State opened Sunday’s first game with a run in the second inning. SCSU held onto their 1-0 lead for the remainder of the game.
Sunday’s second game opened with SCSU scoring 4 runs in the first three innings. The Mustangs scored 3 runs in the fifth inning, putting the score at 6-3. The Huskies went on to score one more run in the seventh inning finishing the game with a 7-3 victory.
The Mustangs won Monday’s first game breaking their 6-game losing streak.
Megan Cull pitched her fourth complete game of the season and threw a career record of 11 strikeouts.
While SMSU led 4-0 going into the fifth inning, the Bulldogs managed to score two runs. The game finished with SMSU breaking the Bulldogs 11-game winning streak with a score of 4-2.
In game two, the Bulldogs scored an unearned run in the first inning. SMSU’s Kaylee Hentges, quickly tied the Bulldog’s score with a solo home run in the second inning.
The Bulldogs scored a second unearned run in the fourth inning due to a fielding error on SMSU’s part.
In the seventh inning, the Bulldogs went on to score two more runs, finishing the game with a 4-1 victory.
SMSU’s starting pitcher, Athena Golling, pitched a career-high 11 strikeouts and only allowed four runs and three walks on six hits.
SMSU which is now ranked 11-22 overall, 6-12 NSIC, will play Wayne State College at 2 p.m. on Wednesday at the Schwan Regional Center.