Wayne State College used a pair of four-run innings late to win the opener 10-7 and then needed just one run to win Game 2 1-0 Tuesday afternoon as the Wildcats swept Southwest Minnesota State in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference softball doubleheader in Wayne, Neb.
Amy Dreessen was 4-for-4 with three RBIs to lead SMSU in the opener, while Kris Penick (3-for-4) and Christine Borowiak (2-for-4, home run) also had multi-hit games for the Mustangs.
SMSU scored four runs over the first two innings to take an early lead, but the team's pitching wasn't up to task against the Wildcats, who improve to 5-0 against SMSU this season.
SMSU starter Chelsey Evans pitched the first four-plus innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and four walks while striking out four batters. Rachel Groff tossed the final two innings, giving up four runs (three earned) on one hit and four walks while fanning one. SMSU started the game up 4-1 through three innings, but gave up four runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth to eventually fall behind 10-7.
"It was a challenging day for our pitchers in that first game," said SMSU head coach Missy Bruggeman. "We gave up eight walk in the game, three of which were in the sixth inning (although one was intentional). That loaded the bases, and then (Kaiti) Williams came up with a big hit to left-center to put them ahead."
SMSU's pitching improved in Game 2, as Rachel Hoeppner hurled a complete-game gem, allowing just one unearned run on six hits and no walks with two strikeouts in six innings.
The Wildcats got the only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning on an RBI single by Kelcie Bormann. Vicki Nielsen reached base on an error to start the inning and moved up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Williams, later scoring on the Bormann hit for an unearned run.
Borowiak was 2-for-4 to lead SMSU, while Penick, Shelbie Stoll, Krista Steen and Katelyn Kalkman each had a base hit, as well. The Mustangs had six hits in the game against Bormann, who pitched all seven innings for the Wildcats and earned the win. She struck out seven batters in the game and walked two.
"We took advantage of (Bormann) the last time we were there for a non-conference game, but she did a nice job of throwing today," Bruggeman said. "We gave them their unearned run early and it unfortunately turned out to be the only run of the game."
SMSU, which is now 16-12 overall and 7-5 in the NSIC, plays a doubleheader at Winona State Friday, then takes on Upper Iowa Saturday.
Game 1
SMSU 310 102 0 - 7 11 1
Wayne State 010 144 X - 10 7 1
SMSU-Chelsey Evans, Rachel Groff (5). Wayne State-J. Harris, S Scheffert (2). WP: Scheffert. LP: Groff. HR: SMSU-Christine Borowiak; Wayne State-Dani Sandel. 2B: SMSU-Amy Dreessen; Wayne State-V. Nielsen, K. Williams. LOB: SMSU-9; Wayne State-6.
Game 2
SMSU 000 000 0 - 0 6 2
Wayne State 010 000 X - 1 6 1
SMSU-Rachel Hoeppner. Wayne State-K. Bormann. WP: Bormann. LP: Hoeppner. LOB: SMSU-9; Wayne State-4.