With 11 hits in Game 1, including three from Ashley Gigax, the Southwest Minnesota State softball team picked up a 5-1 win over Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference opponent Upper Iowa Saturday in Fayette, Iowa.
The Mustangs were unable to come away with the sweep, falling 5-1 to the Peacocks in Game 2.
With the split, SMSU sits at 8-8 in the NSIC, 17-15 overall, while Upper Iowa is 6-8 in the NSIC, 14-27 overall.
In Game 1, Gigax gave the Mustangs a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a two-run home run, driving home Christine Borowiak. Gigax came up big again in the second with an RBI single.
Rachael Anello scored the Peacocks' lone run in the game, before Gigax added an insurance run in the fourth on an RBI single for SMSU. Krista Steen followed up with an RBI double to put the game at 5-1.
In the circle, Chelsey Evans won her ninth game of the season. A transfer from South Dakota State, Evans also batted on Saturday, going 2-for-4.
In Game 2, Kylee Knop opened the game with an RBI single in the first inning. SMSU responded in the second inning with a solo home run by Amy Dreessen. As a team, the Mustangs were held to just five hits.
Also finishing with five hits, the Peacocks went ahead for good in the bottom of the fourth, thanks to a three-run double by Tara Duran.
SMSU heads back to Marshall on Wednesday for an NSIC doubleheader against St. Cloud State at Mustang Field.
Game 1
SMSU210 200 0-5 11 1
Upper Iowa010 000 0-1 8 3
SMSU-Chelsey Evans, Rachel Groff (7); UI-Brooklyn Koranda, Jenna Hermsen. WP-Evans. LP-Koranda. HR: SMSU-Ashley Gigax. 3B: UI-Rachael Anello. 2B: Krista Steen, Shelbie Stoll. LOB: SMSU-12; UI-10.
Game 2
SMSU010 000 0-1 5 1
Upper Iowa100 301 X-5 5 0
SMSU-Rachel Hoeppner; UI-Kylee Knot. WP-Knop. LP-Hoeppner. HR: SMSU-Amy Dreessen. 2B: SMSU-Krista Steen; UI-Knop, Tara Duran. LOB: SMSU-5; UP-4.