Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINOT, N.D. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (22-21, 12-10 NSIC) swept Minot State (21-18, 10-12 NSIC) in a pair of crucial away games on Friday (April 19) afternoon on the road. USF took the first game 12-0 in five innings before winning game two, 6-5.

USF opened the day in a tie for fifth place in the NSIC standings with Minnesota State, Minot State and Southwest Minnesota State at 10-10. With the two wins, USF now maintains a tie for fifth with MSU. Concordia-St. Paul won two games today and moved into seventh place before SMSU in eighth after splitting the day's series while Minot fell to ninth.

First year head coach Shannon Pivovar was pleased with the team's overall effort and mental focus on the day. "The credit for both wins today goes to our entire team. We talked about momentum swings and taking advantage of opportunities this week – and I think on all sides of the ball we stepped up today. We had timely hitting – highlighted by Mossy and Franks' long balls, solid defense and both Kait (Van Der Zwaag) Kerrigan (Hoshaw) kept the Minot hitters off balance enough to come out on top. Our players took advantage of their opportunities when they got them and played the game today for each other. I am super proud of all of their efforts and looking forward to playing another pair tomorrow," said Pivovar, who squad has won six of eight games to move above .500 in league play.

Game one: Sioux Falls 12, Minot State 0
Kerrigan Hoshaw, a senior pitcher from Apple Valley, Minn., pitched a four-inning gem in game one and moved to 8-8 on the season. Hoshaw threw 68 total pitches in four scoreless innings of work, and allowed only three hits while striking out two. She held MiSU to a .167 team batting average. Van Der Zwaag came in to pitch in the fifth inning for a quick, one-two-three inning and shut the door.

The USF offense exploded onto the scene, posting 12 hits in 27 at-bats for a team batting average of .444. USF also recorded three home runs in the contest, including a pair of bombs from Mossman. A junior shortstop, Mossman went two for three with two HRs, three RBI, three runs scored while drawing one walk. Mickelson also went two for three with a home run, two RBI and scored twice. Emily Miller continued her hot streak with three hits with a double, two RBI and one run scored. Over the 10-game span, Miller has gone 16-of-31 (.516 batting average) and raised her season batting average from .123 to .261 while hitting also hitting seven homers.Senior Emily Hove led off for USF and went two of four with a double and a triple while scoring a pair of runs and driving in two more. As a result Hove surpassed 100 RBIs in her career (101). Freshman outfielder Lexie Swift also had a hit, two RBI and run scored while Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag and Emmie Uitts each had a hit.

USF jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first inning after Hove led off the game with a triple and scored on Miller's single. Mickelson cracked a two-run homer to left center to put USF up, 3-0. Mossman then homered to left center in the top of the third inning to extend the USF lead to 4-0.

The USF offense exploded for six runs in the top of the fifth inning to gain a 12-0 advantage. Mossman led off the inning with a walk followed by a Miller double that scored Mossman from first. Mickelson reached on a fielder's choice and Van Der Zwaag singled to left field which plated Ashley Meyer. Uitts was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Swift, who hit a two run double to center field. Hove doubled down the left field line which brought home Swift. Then, Mossman hit her second homerun of the game.

Game two: Sioux Falls 6, Minot State 5
After closing out game one, Van Der Zwaag got the start for USF and tossed a complete game as she allowed four earned runs (five total) on seven hits while striking out seven hitters. She walked two but held Minot in check for most of the game. Der Zwaag gave up two runs in the first inning and three runs in the seventh, but pitched a flawless five innings in between.

The USF offense posted 13 hits in 34 at bats for a team batting average of .382 and scored six runs. USF snapped their consecutive game home run streak at nine games in a row, but still got the win utilizing small ball and key base hits.

Mossman continued to swing a hot bat after recording three hits in five plate appearances including two doubles while scoring two runs and driving in one RBI. Hove supplied two hits and two RBI while scoring once. Miller had two hits and an RBI. Sydney Nieveen and Swift each provided two hits and a run scored while Swift had an RBI.   

Minot State scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning after Kiera Shwaluk singled and stole second followed by a Maggie Mercer triple. Mercer scored on an overthrow to second base as Uitts attempted to catch a stealing baserunner.

USF responded with a five-run second inning after Nieveen led off with a single to left and stole second. Uitts singled to left field which was followed by a Swift single up the middle which scored Nieveen from third. Hove singled to right field, which brought home Uitts and Swift. Mossman followed with a double to center field to plate Hove. Then, Miller drove in Mossman with a single to left field as USF took a 5-2 lead. USF add a run in the top of the fourth inning after Mossman led the inning off with her second double of the game and advanced to third after Van Der Zwaag flew out to deep center field. Mickelson reached on a throwing error, which scored Mossman and extended USF's lead to 6-2.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, MiSU attempted their comeback as Alina Gonzolez singled up the middle and Julia Suchan singled to center. Shwaluk then hit a three-run home run on a 3-2 cont to cut USF's lead to 6-5. Mercer then but the Beaver's comeback ended when Van Der Zwaag induced a ground out by Jamie Odlum to end the game.

USF will travel to University of Mary (18-24, 9-13 NSIC) tomorrow (Saturday, April 20) for a doubleheader at 11 a.m.