The Southwest Minnesota State softball team dropped to 7-7 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (16-14 overall) after getting swept by No. 3-ranked Winona State Friday in Winona. The Warriors picked up a 1-0 victory in Game 1 before completing the sweep with a 2-1 Game 2 victory.
In Game 1, Winona State pitcher Stacey Struzynski held the Mustangs to just two hits.
Getting the lone hits for SMSU were Krista Steen and Kris Penick, who extended a 10-game hit streak. The streak came to an end in Game 2.
In Game 2, the Mustangs scored their lone run in the top of the first when Christine Borowiak stole home.
"It's about knowing when to take advantage of the second baseman and the shortstop,"?SMSU head coach?Missy Bruggeman said of the stolen base. "With Morgan Peterson on first, we went for the double steal to make the defense work."
After Winona State tied the game in the second, the Warriors (12-0 NSIC, 31-2 overall) clinched the game in the third when Brooke Piotrowski scored on a sacrifice fly.
Today, SMSU returns to action, taking on Upper Iowa in Fayette, Iowa.
Game 1
SMSU000 000 0-0 2 1
Winona State000 010 X-1 4 0
SMSU-Chelsey Evans; WSU-Stacey Struzynski. WP-Struzynski. LP-Evans. 2B: SMSU-Kris Penick. LOB: SMSU-6; WSU-7.
Game 2
SMSU100 000 0-1 5 0
Winona State011 000 X-2 5 0
SMSU-Rachel Hoeppner; WSU-Kelsey Anderson, Stacey Struzynski. WP-Anderson. LP-Hoeppner. S-Struzynski. HR: WSU-Britt Stewart. 2B: SMSU-Christine Borowiak. LOB: SMSU-6; WSU-4.