Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SIOUX FALLS – Sydney Nieveen hit a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10^th inning as the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (12-15, 2-4 NSIC) split a doubleheader with Minnesota Crookston (12-16, 1-3 NSIC) on Sunday at Sherman Park. USF lost the first game to UMC 1-0 despite Kerrigan Hoshaw producing a strong starting effort before winning the second game 6-5 in extra innings.

Game one: Minnesota Crookston 1, Sioux Falls 0
Following her perfect game against Bemidji State (March 30), Hoshaw had another strong pitching effort in the first game against UMC, posting a complete game 1-0 loss. Hoshaw pitched seven innings while allowing only one run on five hits and striking out 10 batters with two walks. With the loss, Hoshaw moves to 4-6 on the season.

The USF offense was held in check throughout the contest, amassing two hits in 22 at bats while also drawing three walks.
Sarah Keen and Francesca Mickelson both had base hits to lead the USF offense.  

UMC scored the lone run of the game in the first inning when Maggie Morales singled down the third base line, which scored Haley Strachan.

Game two: Sioux Falls 6, Minnesota Crookston 5
In the second game, USF had a standout pitching performance from freshman Kaitlyn VanDerZwaag and junior Courtney Matthews to win in 10 innings as Nieveen had a game-winning single which scored Francesca Mickelson with the game-deciding run.

In her longest performance of her career, VanDerZwaag started for the Cougars and went 6.1 innings allowing four runs, three of which were earned, on six hits and two walks while also striking out seven UMC batters. VanDerZwaag, who was not involved in the decision,  threw 127 total pitches in the outing. Courtney Mathews (6-6) picked up the win after going 3 2/3 innings and allowing just one run on three hits with four strikeouts.   

As a team, USF had a .366 batting average on 15 hits in 41 at bats Emily Miller sparked the USF offense as she went two of four with three RBI and two runs scored, including a two run HR in the second inning. Nieveen produced three hits in four at bats and three RBIs.  Mickelson had three hits and two runs scored while Keen also had three hits.  

USF jumped out to an early 2-0 lead as Mickelson led off the inning with a single to left and scored on Miller's two-run home run.

USF added two more runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as Kylan Straight reached on a bunt single.  Miller singled to shortstop and Nieveen doubled to left field to score both runners as USF took a 4-0 lead. Then VanDerZwaag held UMC scoreless until the seventh inning.

In the seventh inning, the Golden Eagles scored four runs on four hits and a USF error. Morales led off the inning with a HR to center field. After a single and throwing error, the Golden Eagles had two runners on for Leah Macias, who took advantage of her opportunity and hit a three-run home run to tie the game up at 4-4.

In the top of the 10^th inning, Malia Pula led off for UMC with a homerun for a 5-4 lead.

USF responded in the bottom half of the 10^th inning with two runs on three hits as Hove opened the inning with a single. Mickelson roped a single up the middle and Hoshaw walked to load up the bases. Miller hit a sacrifice fly to score Miranda White and tie the game at 5-5. Then, Nieveen laced a single down the left field line to score Mickelson and help USF to a split. The Cougars had the rally against UMC pitcher Paige Pitlick, who had shut down USF in game one and until the Cougars broke through in the 10^th inning of game two.

USF will now host Wayne State (9-12, 0-4 NSIC) on Tuesday, April 2 in an NSIC doubleheader at 3 p.m., at Sherman Park.