CLERMONT, FLA. – The University of Sioux Falls Softball Team had a sterling pitching performance from
Hanna Cress and another home run from
Frankie Mickelson in earning a split of a pair of games at the Spring Games in Florida on Thursday (March 12). The Cougars loss to Bridgeport, 2-0, despite
Sydney Nieveen allowing just four hits, and recorded an 8-0 win over NY Tech as Cress allowed just one hit and Mickelson provided a home run for the third time in four games.
Game 1 – Bridgeport 2 USF 0
In the opening game of the day on Thursday, senior
Sydney Nieveen pitched a strong game but lost a 2-0 decision.
Nieveen (2-2) allowed four hits and two runs while striking out four hits in facing 27 batters across seven innings. Bridgeport, which had a strong outing from winning pitcher Miranda Hillman, scored two runs in the sixth inning to take the win. Both Nieveen and Hillman threw scoreless frames through the first five innings.
Against Bridgeport, USF had hits from
Rachel Klassen,
Shayla Running, Kaitlyn Van der Zwaag and
Lexie Swift.
Game 2 – USF 8 New York Tech 0
In winning a run-rule shortened game two, USF had a standout pitching performance from freshman
Hanna Cress, who won her fifth game of the season. To back Cress on the mound, the Cougars had a three-run home run from
Frankie Mickelson, who hit her fourth of the season and 13
th of her career. USF had eight runs on five hits as they took advantage of six walks to earn the 8-0 decision.
Aside from Mickelson, senior shortstop
Lindsey Mossman had two hits and two runs scored while freshman
Shayla Running had a hit and two runs scored. Senior
Sydney Nieveen added a hit and RBI.
Cress (5-3) allowed just one hit in four innings of work. She had six strikeouts and a walk among the 14 batters she faced. With those six strikeouts, she has 43 strikeouts in 36 innings this year. Freshman
Karington Kadel finished up for USF with one inning of shutout relief.
The Cougars took a 4-0 lead in the first inning as USF had RBI from
Lexie Swift on a walk,
Emily Cheloha on a hit-by pitch, and a sacrifice fly from Nieveen. USF added another run in the second inning when Van Der Zwaag's RBI ground out scored
Kylan Straight who walked to open the inning. In the fourth inning, Mossman and Running opened the inning with singles and scored on Mickelson's home run to centerfield.
