Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WINONA, MINN. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (15-18, 5-7 NSIC) dropped a pair of close games against No. 21 Winona State (27-5, 12-0 NSIC) on Saturday afternoon. Sydney Nieveen and Francesca Mickelson each hit solo HRs in a 4-3 game one loss before the Cougars fell in game two, 2-0.

Game 1: Winona State 4, Sioux Falls 3
Kerrigan Hoshaw (6-7) put together a strong performance against the nationally-ranked Warriors but took a hard luck 4-3 loss. In dropping to 6-7 on the season, Hoshaw allowed four earned runs on nine hits and issued three walks while striking out one in throwing a complete game, which is her eighth of the season in 13 starts.  

Against one of the league's top pitchers in Jordan Klemann (14-1), the USF offense recorded three runs on four hits in 25 total at-bats. Both Sydney Nieveen and Francesca Mickelson each went one for three with a solo homerun to left field. Lindsey Mossman had a double while freshman Sarah Keen capitalized on her sole at-bat with a single in the seventh inning.

WSU opened the scoring when Katie Kolb led off with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a groundball to shortstop. She advanced to third after Alison Nowak singled up the middle and scored on a groundball to second base. WSU added three more runs in the second inning highlighted by back-to-back doubles by Ann Smolenski and Rylee Stout for a 4-0 lead.

USF cut into the deficit in the third inning when Emmie Uitts drew a one out walk followed by a Mossman double to right field. Emily Hove and Hoshaw were each hit by WSU pitches which scored Uitts from third. USF scored another run in the top of the fourth when Nieveen hit a solo HR down the left field line as the Cougars trailed, 4-2. In the top of the fifth inning, Mickelson hit a two-out solo HR to left center field to bring the score to, 4-3. USF put the tying run on base in the seventh inning but Klemann worked out of the threat.

Game 2: Winona State 2, Sioux Falls 0
Freshman Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag (0-1) had an impressive outing for USF as she pitched a complete game. In her six inning complete game, she allowed two runs on 10 hits. Van Der Zwaag also struck out three WSU batters throughout the contest.

The USF offense was held in check for the entirety of the game by WSU starter Liz Pautz as the Cougars posted five hits in 23 at-bats and drew three walks. Senior Emily Hove led the team with two hits in three plate appearances. Emily Miller had a hit and drew one walk, while Nieveen and Mossman each recorded a hit.

WSU opened the scoring in the second inning as Ann Smolenski's RBI double plated Alison Nowak who singled. The Warriors added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning after a leadoff walk, sacrifice bunt and single brought runners on second and third with one out. Rina Niehoff laid down a sacrifice bunt to plate WSU's second run.

USF threatened a comeback in the top of the seventh inning with a leadoff single by Miller and a one out walk by Rachel Klassen followed by a single by Mossman to load the bases. But WSU brought in Klemann with one out and she shut down USF's threat to earn a save.

USF will return home to face Concordia-St. Paul (20-10, 7-3 NSIC) on Tuesday, April 9 for a doubleheader beginning at 3 p.m.