Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ABERDEEN, S.D. – Emily Miller hit a walk off two-run HR in the bottom of the 10^th inning in game one to highlight a three HR day for her as University of Sioux Falls Softball (20-19, 10-8 NSIC) swept Northern State (15-25, 7-11 NSIC) on Monday at the Presentation Dome. The NSIC doubleheader was originally scheduled to be held in Sioux Falls but was moved to Aberdeen, S.D., due to unplayable field conditions at Sherman Park.

In game one of the day's doubleheader, Miller, an Aberdeen native, hit a pair of HR's both in extra innings to propel USF to a 7-5 victory in the 10^th inning. Emily Hove, Lindsey Mossman, and Miller each hit a HR as USF took game two, 8-3 and extended their winning streak to four games. With her homerun today, Hove moves to fifth in program history with her 20^th career HR. Miller doubled her season HR total during the games today, going from three on the season, as well as accumulating five RBI on the day.

USF experienced a solid pitching performance from Kerrigan Hoshaw, Sydney Nieveen and Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag on the day as they recorded 15 strikeouts and held the NSU batters to a combined .261 batting average (18-of-69).

First year head coach Shannon Pivovar was pleased with how the team handled adversity during the contests. "We experienced a lot of growth as a team this weekend and hope to build off of these wins as our season progresses. (Emily) Miller had a phenomenal day for us at the plate, which was great to see," said Pivovar. "In addition, I thought Kerrigan Hoshaw and Sydney Nieveen commanded the zone today as well as I have seen them all season, which gave our defense the confidence they needed to support their efforts. All-in-all, this was a fantastic weekend of Cougar family softball."

USF next will travel to Bowden Field tomorrow (April 16) to face their cross-town rivals No. 11 Augustana (36-7, 16-2 NSIC) for a pair of NSIC road games beginning at 3 p.m.

Game one: Sioux Falls 7, Northern State 5
In an emotional game one, Hoshaw took charge on the mound pitching all 10 innings in a complete game 138 pitch effort. She allowed five runs on 12 hits and issued only one walk while striking out nine NSU batters. With the win, Hoshaw moved to 7-7 on the season.

Perseverance was the key to the game as USF was down two runs with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom of the seventh inning, but dug deep and strung together four straight to tie the game up and force extra innings. NSU hit a HR in the top of the eighth, but Miller came up clutch for the Cougars to tie the game with one of her HRs. Miller finished the game with two hits in four at-bats including a solo HR in the bottom of the eighth and a two-run walk off bomb in the bottom of the 10^th. Miller drove in three runs and scored twice while also drawing one walk in the game.

Junior outfielder Francesca Mickelson had a career-high four hit ballgame in five plate appearances including a double, two runs scored and one RBI. Hove had a pair of hits in five at-bats and scored once for the Cougars. Also recording hits for USF were Emmie Uitts, Lexie Swift, Kylan Straight and Mossman.

Northern State jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning after Courtney Sjerven hit a one out single followed by a Kennady Thompson two-run HR.

USF responded in the fourth inning with a pair of runs on three total hits. Mickelson singled up the middle to lead off the inning and advanced to second on an Ashley Meyer groundout. Straight then hit an infield single followed by a Miller walk to load up the bases. Nieveen then hit a ground ball to second baseman who took the out at second base which allowed Mickelson to score from third. Miller was out on the play and Nieveen reached first base on the fielder's choice. Uitts then struck a single to left field to score Straight and tie the game up at, 2-2.

NSU scored one run in the top of the fifth inning as Cassidy Schaar was hit by a Hoshaw pitch, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a double to left center field by Rachel Reinke. NSU scored one more run in the top of the sixth inning to take a 4-2 lead late in the ballgame.

With two outs in the seventh inning, the bases were empty as Swift cracked a sharp line drive double to left center field to spark the USF rally. Hove then singled up the middle to advance Swift to third, and Mossman hit a soft groundball to shortstop, who instead of taking the out at first attempted to test Hove in a foot race to second and ultimately ended up losing, which allowed Swift to score from third and prolong the USF comeback. With runners on first and second and two strikes against her, Mickelson hit a clutch double to left center field that scored Hove and tied the game up at 4-4.

The Wolves wasted little time regaining the lead in the top of the eighth inning with a solo HR down the left field line Kaitlyn King giving them a 5-4 lead.

Miller answered that long ball in the bottom of the eighth inning with her own. With one out, she hammered a solo HR over the left field fence to tie the game. Miller came up again in the bottom of the 10^th inning with the game still tied and a runner at second with two outs. She took a called strike and then hit a walk off two-run shot to left center field to end the game as USF won in walk-off style for a third straight game.

Game two: Sioux Falls 8, Northern State 3
Nieveen recorded the win for USF as she pitched six innings game and allowed just one run on three hits and kept the NSU batters guessing all afternoon. She struck out four while not giving up a single walk and needed only 71 total pitches to get through all six innings. Freshman Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag came in to pitch in the seventh inning and allowed two runs on three hits while striking out a pair of NSU batters.

Miller continued her impressive day at the plate with a two-run homerun. She also walked once, scored twice and recorded two RBI in the win. Mossman went one for two at the dish with a HR, walk, two runs scored and a  RBI, while also hitting a HR in the contest. Hove was one for four with a three-run homer as she continued to move up USF's all time home run charts.. Freshman Sarah Keen hit a crucial double as she went one for two on the day with one run scored. Swift had two plate appearances during the game and produced one hit, one RBI and scored one run. Rachel Klassen, Miranda White and Mickelson each recorded a single in the game as well.

USF scored first in game two as Mossman drew a one out walk and Mickelson knocked a single up the middle. Ashley Meyer then drew a one out walk to load the bases and set up a Miller sacrifice fly to right field as USF took a 1-0 lead, but M Rutter tied the game up for NSU in the top of the third inning with a solo HR to left field.

The USF offense exploded for a six -run fourth inning on four total hits. Miller led off the inning with a walk, followed by a Keen double down the left field line that advanced Miller to third. Nieveen hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Miller and advance Keen to third as USF took a 2-1 lead. Uitts then walked and stole second and Swift hit a single to center field that scored Keen and moved Uitts to third. USF then hit back-to-back homeruns with Hove hitting a three-run blast over the left field fence and Mossman following suit with a HR to left field of her own to push the USF lead to 7-1.

Miller hommered in the bottom of the fifth to extend the USF lead to 8-1 late in the ballgame. NSU attempted a rally in the top of the seventh inning with a Madison Rutter hitting a two-run HR, but a strike out and groundout to short stop secured game two for the Cougars.