ROCHESTER, Minn. – The 2019 season may have ended in heart-breaking fashion for the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (24-30) on Friday afternoon in 6-5 loss to St. Cloud State (42-15) at the NSIC Championship, but the Cougars battled to the end, said USF Head Coach Shannon Pivovar.

The Cougars trailed 3-0 and 5-1 before tying the game with a four-run sixth inning which was keyed by a three-run home run from Emmie Uitts on day two of the NSIC Softball Championship in Rochester, Minn. In their sixth straight appearance, the USF squad finished 1-2 as they rallied for a 9-7 win over No. 7 Minot State on Friday before taking No. 1 seed Winona State to the wire before falling, 3-2, in the second game on Thursday, May 2. Then today against No. 4 seeded SCSU, the Cougars dropped a 6-5 decision as Alexis Jacobs had a walk-off double in the bottom the 10^th inning as the Huskies scored an unearned run and picked up the victory.

"If the season had to end; then this was about as good of a game to wrap it up," said USF Head Coach Shannon Pivovar, whose team finished 24-30. "We competed at the plate, in the circle and defensively. We stuck together as a team the entire game," she said.

Pivovar was pleased with the way the Cougars were able to rally from early deficits in both the Minot State and SCSU games and put themselves in position to win.

"I am so proud of what this team was able to come together and do at the end of the season. The heart and determination they showed from first pitch to last is exactly what this USF family strives to be," she said.

USF's offense was led by freshman outfielder Lexie Swift and junior shortstop Lindsey Mossman, who each had a pair of hits. Swift had one of three doubles by USF plus scored a run scored and had two RBI as she ended the season with a team-high .358 batting average. Uitts hit her fifth home run of the season. Francesca Mickelson and Ashley Meyer both had doubles in the game.

Junior Sydney Nieveen, who had a hit and run scored, took the loss to drop to 5-7. However, the junior from Hallam, Neb., had another superb pitching outing and at the plate. She allowed just three hits in 3 2/3 innings with two strikeouts and no walks while throwing just 36 pitches. In two appearances at the league tourney, Nieveen had a 2.10 earned run average with five strikeouts and no walks in throwing 10 innings. She also shined at the plate as she had a .455 batting average in the three games at the tournament with five hits in 11 at bats and four RBI.Today she had a hit and run scored.

Freshman pitcher Kaityln VanDer Zwaag worked four innings against SCSU and allowed just one hit, and one run while striking out a career-high eight batters. Courtney Mathews (two innings, four runs, three walks, four hits, strikeout, 44 pitches) worked the first two innings but did not figure in the decision. USF's top hitter in the tournament was Meyer, who hit .500 with four hits – all doubles - in eight at bats. Aside from Nieveen's .455 average, USF had solid performances from Mickelson, who hit .417 with five hits and four runs, and Swift who finished at .400 with four hits, two runs.

Game Breakdown
SCSU scored three times in the first inning for a 3-0 lead. In the top of the second frame, Mickelson doubled and scored on double by Swift as USF trailed, 3-1. The Huskies responded with single runs in both the second and third innings for a 5-1 lead. Then, USF dug in for a comeback.

In the sixth inning, USF picked up four runs on four hits to tie the game at 5-5. Meyer doubled to open the inning with Sarah Keen replacing her as a pinch runner. With one out, Swift's double scored Keen to cut the lead to 5-2. Then, Nieveen singled and Uitts followed with her biggest hit of the season - a three-run home run to tie the game at 5-5. However, USF couldn't mount any threats after the sixth inning and SCSU broke through in the 10^th inning for the 6-5 win.

Seniors lead way for USF
In a post-game reflection, Pivovar credited her three seniors for leading a young team to a strong finish when they were just a couple of plays from advancing further into the tournament.

"I want to thank our three wonderful seniors – Kerrigan Hoshaw, Emily Miller and Emily Hove – for being the exact type of leaders this group needed. We have big shoes to fill because they set the standard to high. I am excited for the future of USF Softball," she said.

Hove, who hit .301 with nine home runs and 37 RBI this season, finished her career with 20 home runs (fifth all-time at USF) and 106 RBI (fourth all-time at USF). In addition, she ended her career first at USF in hits with 187, at bats with 665, game starts with 215, total bases with 297 and was sixth in runs scored with 96. Hoshaw had 27 career home runs for third all-time at USF. The Apple Valley senior finished 9-10 this season and in USF's DII era, ranks first all-time with 11 shutouts and 396 strikeouts. She is second at USF in wins (49), appearances (115), starts (100), innings pitched (559.1) and third in complete games (42).  As for Miller, she was named All-NSIC second team this week and finished her season with a .276 average and 10 home runs. In she had 11 home runs.

This group of seniors accounted for 58 home runs and 99 wins during their stellar career.