ST. CLOUD, Minn. - Wrapping up their season-opening trip to the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament, University of Sioux Falls Softball dropped a pair of heart-breaking losses to Southwest Baptist before rebounding to defeat Fort Hays State in a pitcher's duel. The Cougars (2-3) opened Saturday with a tough 2-1 loss to SBU before dropping a 1-0 game in extra innings in the second leg of the doubleheader. Closing their weekend in St. Cloud, Francesca Mickelson's two-run homerun proved to be the difference in USF's 2-0 win over Fort Hays State.

Southwest Baptist 2, Sioux Falls 1
With two runs in the bottom of the second, Southwest Baptist built a lead and staved off USF's answers for a 2-1 victory. Sydney Nieveen and Breanna Black both recorded two hits, but the Cougars stranded 10 runners on base in the one-run loss.

Nieveen, Black and Emily Miller all singled in the first two innings, but the Cougars came up empty in both frames. SBU capitalized on USF's scoreless innings and scored both of their runs in the bottom of the second, using three hits to take a 2-0 lead.

Black logged her second hit of the game in the fourth inning, but USF again came up empty. Following two shutout innings by USF starting pitcher Kerrigan Hoshaw, the Cougars broke through. Nieveen doubled to open the top of the fifth inning then advanced on Lindsey Mossman's sacrifice bunt. Hoshaw scored the Cougars' only run with a double to right field, plating Nieveen.

Courtney Mathews came on in relief of Hoshaw and she tossed two shutout innings, giving the Cougars a chance to tie the game. Black worked a two-out walk in the sixth, but was stranded. In the seventh inning, Nieveen reached base for the third time, getting to second on an SBU throwing error by the shortstop. Mossman gave the Cougars the go-ahead baserunner after getting hit by a pitch. However, with two runners on, USF couldn't capitalize and ended with a 2-1 loss.

Southwest Baptist 1, Sioux Falls 0 (8 innings)
Deadlocked in a scoreless tie through seven innings, Southwest Baptist manufactured a run in the top of the eighth inning and earned a 1-0 victory over Sioux Falls. Emmie Uitts had two of USF's four hits and Breanna Black threw six and two thirds shutout innings before Courtney Mathews suffered the loss in extra innings.

The Cougars again left 10 runners on base against the Bearcats, but Black struck out eight and stranded eight more runners in her six-plus innings of work. USF left two runners on base in both the first and second innings, as Uitts and Francesca Mickelson each singled.

The scoreless tie reached the bottom of the seventh, when USF had another chance to score. With one out, Megan Peterson reached on an error and was moved into scoring position on Sydney Nieveen's single, but the next two Cougars flied out to end the threat.

With a pair of hits in the top of the eighth, SBU scored the first and only run of the game. With Hoshaw placed at second to start the bottom of the eighth, Ashley Meyer sacrificed her to third with a bunt. However, the Cougars couldn't tie the game with a flyout and groundout again ending their scoring opportunity.

Sioux Falls 2, Fort Hays State
Locked in another low-scoring game, Francesca Mickelson was the hero, hitting a two-run homerun to fuel the Cougars' 2-0 victory over Fort Hays State. Kerrigan Hoshaw and Courtney Mathews combined for a one-hit shutout and Mathews earned her second win of the season.

Hitless in the first three innings, USF threatened to score in the top of the fourth inning. Hoshaw singled up the middle with one out and Jasmine Ragusi followed with a single to right. Pinch runners Cassie Van Beek and Miranda White were moved into scoring position on Emily Miller's flyout, but a second flyout ended USF's chance to break the tie.

Hoshaw tossed her fourth shutout inning before the Cougars again threatened to score in the top of the fifth. Breanna Black started the inning with a single to centerfield, but she was cut down at third on Emmie Uitts's fielder's choice. Emily Hove and Sydney Nieveen singled to center to load the bases, but the Cougars came up empty with a strikeout and groundout in the final two at-bats of the inning.

In relief of Hoshaw, Mathews worked a perfect fifth inning, allowing Mickelson to break the game open. Miller started the process with a one-out double to center then Mickelson completed it with her first homerun of the season, a two-run shot to give the Cougars a 2-0 lead.

Mathews kept dealing over the final two innings, not allowing a hit in her three innings of work.