TOPEKA, KAN. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (4-4) had two hits by Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag, Shayla Running and Cassie Van Beek, but dropped a 13-6 decision to Emporia State (9-5) in the opener of the Washburn Invitational which opened on Friday.

ESU jumped to a 5-0 lead before USF pushed a run across as Kylan Straight scored. After the Cougars had RBI from Van Der Zwaag, who finished the day with two hits and three RBI, Van Beek and Lexie Swift, to draw within 5-4, the Hornets had a seven-run inning to effectively put the game on ice. Later, Van Der Zwaag hit a two-run home run, which was her second of the season and third of her career. She is now hitting .500 on the season. Freshman infielder Shayla Running added two hits in four trips to the plate with two runs scored. Running has pushed her average to .480.  Junior infielder Cassie Van Beek also had two hits moved her average upwards and is hitting .318.

Freshman pitcher Hanna Cress (2-2) took the loss for USF. Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag finished for USF. She allowed four hits and four runs with two strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings. 

Scoring Summary -
In the first inning, Cassidy Beem had a two-run single as ESU grabbed a 2-0 lead over USF. In the second inning Destiny Ojigoh singled to score Maddy Broxterman for a 3-0 lead. Hannah Steeby had her second hit of the game and with a two-run double plated two runs as ESU took a 5-0 lead later in the frame. After picking up a run in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Sydney Nieveen, the Cougars added three more in the third inning as Van der Zwaag, Van Beek and Swift had RBI.  In the fifth inning, ESU had three runs as Roni Raines had a two-run single for ESU. Then, Steeby had her third hit of the game with a grand slam as the Hornets pushed their lead to 13-4. In the bottom of the fifth inning, Van Der Zwaag hit her second home run of the season, which plated Running who had doubled to open the inning.