CLERMONT, FLA – Frankie Mickelson had a big day at the plate while pitchers Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag and Hanna Cress shut down two opponents as the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team swept two opponents at the Spring Games in Florida today. Mickelson homered in both games as the Cougars took a 6-3 win over Bentley (Mass.) and a 5-2 decision against California (Pa.) on Wednesday, March 11. On Thursday, the Cougars will face Bridgeport at 9:15 a.m. and New York Tech at 11:15 am at the Diamond Plex in Clermont, Fla.

Stat Breakdown – On the day, USF's offense was led by Frankie Mickelson with three hits – two home runs – two runs scored and a team-high five RBI. She had a .500 batting average, 1.500 slugging mark and .500 OBP. Of USF's 11 runs, she accounted for five. Freshman infielder Shayla Running had three hits in seven at bats for a .429 average. Sophomore outfielder Rachel Klassen hit .333 with two hits and .429 OBP while junior Cassie Van Beek had two hits, two RBI and a .333 OBP. As a team, USF hit .291 and limited their two opponents to a .182 average. Sophomore pitcher Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag had a big day on the mound. She was 1-0 with a save and a 1.12 era by allowing just three hits and one earned run in eight innings while strikeout out six. Opponents hit just .111 against her. Freshman pitcher Hanna Cress had a 1-0 record with a 3.00 era after allowing seven hits, two earned runs in six innings. She had nine strikeouts and walked just three hitters while holding opponents to a .250 average.

Sioux Falls 6 Bentley 3
In the opener of a 10-game Florida trip, Frankie Mickelson and Cassie Van Beek homered while Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag dominated on the mound as USF took a 6-3 victory.

USF exploded for six runs in the second inning to take an early lead and was not threatened the rest of the way. After Van Der Zwaag hit her first career triple, junior infielder Cassie Van Beek homered to center field. Then, sophomore outfielder Lexie Swift reached on an error which was followed by senior centerfielder Frankie Mickelson's second home run of the season and 11^th of her career for a 4-1 lead. After senior shortstop Lindsey Mossman reached on an error, sophomore outfielder Rachel Klassen singled and when Shayla Running doubled, both Mossman and Klassen scored for a 6-1 lead.

On the mound, sophomore right-hander Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag was dominating in her first performance in Florida. She allowed just two hits and an earned run with a pair of strikeouts and two walks in facing 20 batters across five innings. Freshman Hanna Cress finished for USF and allowed two unearned runs on three hits in two innings. Cress had four strikeouts in the 12 batters she faced.

Bentley scored first with a single run in the top of the first inning. Then, after USF had a six-run second, Van Der Zwaag shut them down and allowed just one hit after the first inning. Cress took over in the sixth inning when Bentley scored a pair of unearned runs but she closed the door in the seventh as USF picked up the win.

Sioux Falls 5 California (Pa.) 2
With the power of  Mickelson and the pitching combo of Cress and Van Der Zwaag, USF earned a second win of the day at the Florida Spring Games. Mickelson hit a three-run home run as Cress earned her fourth win of the season.

Mickelson hit a three-run home run in the second inning to spot the Cougars to a 3-0 lead and all the runs that would be needed. Uitts and Nieveen scored on the Mickelson long ball. USF added two runs in the fourth inning when Mossman hit a two-run single to score Uitts and Nieveen for a 5-0 lead. California (Pa.) scored a run in the fourth and Brooke Wilson homered in the fifth to cut the lead to 5-2.

USF's offense was led by Mickelson who had two hits and three RBI. USF had 10 hits total as Mossman added two hits and two RBI and Running also had a pair of hits. Nieveen and Uitts both had a hit, walk and two runs scored. Klassen also had a double for USF.

Cress moved to 4-3 on the season after allowing four hits and two runs in four innings. She had five strikeouts and issued three walks during her stint on the mound. Van Der Zwaag, who recorded her first save of the season, allowed just one hit and recorded four strikeouts in three innings. She faced 10 batters with just one reaching base.