EMPORIA, KAN. – Led by Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag and Damaris Cuevas, the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (5-7) earned a split of two nonconference games on Saturday (March 20) in Emporia, Kan.

The Cougars dropped a 7-4 decision to Central Oklahoma (13-5) in the opener as a late rally fell short. Then, Van Der Zwaag threw a complete game and had two hits while freshman Damaris Cuevas had two hits and two RBI to lead the Cougars to a 5-3 win over Emporia State (10-6).

Cuevas hit .714 on the day as she was 5-of-7 with two doubles, four RBI and seven total bases. As a result, the freshman standout improved her season average to a team-best .586 (17 hits, 29 at bats, .613 OBP). Van Der Zwaag hit .429 with three hits in seven at bats and had an RBI. She also threw a complete game, allowing just a single earned run with two strikeouts. Overall, USF hit .281 as a team and had a 2.50 earned run average in the circle.

USF Head Coach Shannon Pivovar was pleased with her team's continuing improvement. "Today was a good day of softball for our team in all areas," said Pivovar, whose team will play Central Oklahoma at noon and ESU at 4 pm again on Sunday (March 21) as part of the Missouri Western Hyvee Classic, which is being held in three different locations due to weather. "We are learning who we are as a team, growing in the circle, behind them on defense and in our approach at the plate. We are gaining trust and confidence throughout the lineup and everyone is contributing," she said.

G1 – Central Oklahoma 7 USF 4
In the opener, USF received a strong outing on the mound from Hanna Cress, who threw a complete game but lost a 7-4 decision to Central Oklahoma.

Cress, who fell to 3-4 on the season, allowed seven hits and four earned runs with five strikeouts in throwing 122 pitches across seven innings.  Bailey McKittrick (1-1) picked up the win for OCU, which used three pitches including Isey Cox who earned her first save of the season.

For the second time this season, Cuevas had three hits in four at bats and tied a career-best with two RBIs. Kylan Straight, Frankie Mickelson, Cassie Van Beek and Lexie Swift, who scored two runs, had hits for USF.

The Broncos opened the scoring with a run in the second before USF tied in the third inning as Lexie Swift singles and later scoring on an RBI single by senior center fielder Frankie Mickelson, who hit her 66^th career RBI.  In the fifth inning, UCO took a 4-1 lead with three runs on three hits. UCO added to the lead with a three-run seventh inning with all three tallies unearned.

In the bottom of the final frame, USF answered with three runs on two hits, including a two-run double by Cuevas. However, USF's rally fell short as they fell to 1-2 all-time with UCO.

G2 – USF 5 Emporia State 3
With a four-run explosion in the first inning plus a stellar effort in the circle from Van Der Zwaag, USF turned back Emporia State, 5-3.

In moving to 2-2 on the season, Van Der Zwaag threw a complete-game two-hitter. With her 81 pitches to 26 batters, Van Der Zwaag allow just one earned run, two hits, and did not walk a hitter while registering two strikeouts. She registered her third complete game of the season and lowered her earned run average to 3.28.

USF had six batters record hits included two each by Van Der Zwaag, who had an RBI and scored twice; and Cuevas, who hit a single and double, had two RBI and scored a run.

Mickelson had a hit and RBI and senior catcher Emmie Uitts had a two-run double. Leadoff hitter, Kylan Straight has hits in 9-of-12 games, including the last three straight games.

Cougars jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with four straight hits, including RBI by Van Der Zwaag and Cuevas plus a two-run double from Uitts which produced the advantage. USF added its final run as Cuevas doubled to scored Van Der Zwaag, who had singled with one out in the third inning.