Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Rebounding from two losses on the opening day of the Hy-Vee Classic, University of Sioux Falls Softball split their second of three doubleheaders on Saturday. USF dropped a 7-4 decision to Central Missouri in the first leg then pounced on Fort Hays State for an 8-1 victory in game two. The Cougars (13-10) will close their time in St. Joseph, Mo. with games against Northwest Missouri State and No. 9 Central Oklahoma on Sunday, March 19.
 
Central Missouri 7, Sioux Falls 4
An early deficit plagued Sioux Falls against Central Missouri and the Cougars' late comeback attempt wasn't enough as they suffered a 7-4 loss. Kerrigan Hoshaw suffered the loss for USF as the Cougars were held to five hits in the defeat.
 
The Jennies built a three-run lead in the first inning, using a pair of doubles in the opening frame. Hoshaw hit a double in the bottom of the first, but USF wasn't able to cut into the UCM lead as they expanded on it in the following innings.
 
Central Missouri stranded two baserunners in the second inning but capitalized on an error to score twice in the third, pushing their lead to 5-0. Lindsey Moss singled in the third, but the Cougars were held off the board in that inning and again in the fourth. Central Missouri added to their advantage with a two-out run in the fifth, but USF answered in their turn at the plate.
 
Britni Broussard singled to lead off and moved to second on a fielding error before advancing to third on a fielder's choice. Ashley Meyer drove her in with a sacrifice fly, but the Cougars' rally ended there. Both teams went scoreless in the sixth inning and the Jennies added an insurance run in the top of the seventh.
 
The Cougars made a charge in their final at-bat, scoring three times, but they couldn't erase their six-point deficit. Mossman reached on a hit batter then advanced on an error during Emma Schifferle's at-bat. Meyer singled in one run, forcing UCM into a pitching change. Hoshaw worked a walk in the new Jennie pitcher's first batter and Jasmine Ragusi reached on a fielder's choice then Kenna Heath and Emily Hove both singled to score one run apiece. The Cougar rally ended there and USF entered their second game looking to rebound from their 7-4 loss.
 
Sioux Falls 8, Fort Hays State 1
Breanna Black earned her first win of the season, tossing a five-hit gem in the circle as Sioux Falls snapped their losing streak with an 8-1 win over Fort Hays State. Providing the support for Black, Kerrigan Hoshaw hit a homerun and Jasmine Ragusi went 4-for-4 with three runs batted in.
 
The Cougars were quick to take a lead, scoring in the top of first inning then adding three more in the third. After Lindsey Mossman led off with a walk then stole second, Rsgusi popped her first double to left centerfield and scored USF's leadoff hitter from second.
 
Britni Broussard continued her hot streak with a leadoff single in the third and stole second. Moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, Broussard was in prime scoring position for Ragusi, who drove her in with a single to right. The Cougars then doubled their lead when Hoshaw hit her sixth homerun of the season, giving Sioux Falls a 4-0 lead.
 
After a leadoff walk in the first inning for Fort Hays State, Black retired the next nine hitters before giving the Tigers recorded their first hit of the game. A leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth broke up Black's no-hitter bid, and they scored one run to cut USF's lead to 4-1.
 
Black returned to her dominant form with shutout fifth and sixth innings, allowing the Cougars to expand on their lead in the top of the seventh. Ashley Meyer led off with a walk and Francesca Mickelson followed with a double to right centerfield. Broussard gave the Cougars their third straight hit to start the inning with a base-clearing double to score both USF runners. Mossman kept the rally going with a single then stole second, putting two runners in scoring position for Ragusi again. The junior catcher came up clutch, connecting on her fourth hit of the game with a single up the middle to plate both runners.
 
With a seven-run cushion, Black dispatched the Tigers in the bottom of the seventh. The junior right-hander avoiding any damage despite two FHSU hits and put the finishing touches on her complete game victory with a pair of flyouts and a game-ending groundout.