SIOUX FALLS –Shayla Running, Frankie Mickelson and Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag led the University of Sioux Falls (19-16, 13-8) to a sweep of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader with Minot State, 9-1, and 7-2 on Sunday afternoon on a cold and windy afternoon at Sherman Park.

With the victories, USF increased its winning streak to a season-best five straight, which is the longest run since winning five straight on Feb. 11-24, 2017. The Cougars have won seven of their last nine games to push their NSIC mark to 13-8 for sixth in the NSIC and just a game out of fifth place (Concordia St. Paul, 14-8).

In the two wins today, USF outscored Minot State, 16-3 and had a 21-15 hit advantage. In the circle, USF had a combined 1.75 earned run average with six strikeouts and just two walks in 12 innings. Shayla Running had six hits in seven at bats with four RBI and a 1.143 slugging mark. Frankie Mickelson had four hits in five at bats with two RBI while Kennedy Thomas had three hits in four trips to the plate.

"What a fun week of softball our family has played," said USF Head Coach Shannon Pivovar. "We found different ways in every game to crack and code and find ways to win. Kait (Van Der Zwaag) and Hanna (Cress) had great days in the circle and that allowed our hitters to find ways to work as we adjusted to different pitchers. I am so proud of Kennedy (Thomas) and Kylie (Madrid) who both stepped into pinch-hitting situations and got the job done. Our hitters are finding ways to string things together – everybody joined in the production today. We are focusing on being tough outs and making something happen at the plate and right now we are having success with that. We played with some heart and guts – it was really cool to see. A pair of wins in two different ways. I am proud of our kids and where we are today. Lots of softball left to play but I am proud of where we are going," added Pivovar.

Stat Breakdown -
This weekend, USF won four straight with a .475 batting average, 42-5 runs advantage and 47-18 margin in hits while registering a 1.59 earned run average with five earned runs allowed in 22 innings. Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag was 2-0 with a 0.70 earned run average while Hanna Cress was 2-0 with a 2.33 earned run average. Shayla Running had eight hits in 11 at bats with six RBI and five runs scored. Breaking it down over the past six games, USF is hitting .399 with a 1.84 earned run average. Rachel Klassen is 7-of-12 for a .583 average while Shayla Running has a team-best eight hits in 16 at bats with a team-high (tied with Cassie Van Beek) with six RBI and she totaled 11 bases with a .688 slugging mark.        
 
Game 1 – Sioux Falls 9 Minot State 1 (5 innings)
With Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag hitting a grand slam and throwing a complete game in the circle, USF earned a 9-1 win in the opener of the NSIC doubleheader.

Van Der Zwaag hit her first-ever grand slam, which was her fourth home run of the season, which is tied for the team lead with Mika Rodriguez. In the circle Van Der Zwaag (10-7) recorded her fourth straight complete game (three wins), as she allowed seven hits and one run with four strikeouts while throwing 47 pitches.

Sophomore Shayla Running led the offense with three hits, RBI and two runs scored while Kennedy Thomas had two hits, run scored and RBI while Van Der Zwaag hit the game-changing grand slam.

After Minot State opened the scoring in the third inning, the Cougars broke through with eight runs in the bottom half of the inning. It was the third time this season that USF has recorded eight or more runs in an inning. With the bases loaded, Thomas hit a run-scoring single to score Running and Kylan Straight also scored after a MiSU error. Up 2-1, USF loaded the bases with two outs when Van Der Zwaag hammered the grand slam that gave USF a 6-1 lead. Damaris Cuevas hit a single and scored on Running's run-scoring triple. Running came home on Frankie Mickelson's base hit for an 8-1 lead. Kylie Madrid's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth frame with two out ended the game with the Cougars take a 9-1 victory.

Game 2 – Sioux Falls 7 Minot State 2 (7 innings)
Shayla Running and Cassie Van Beek had run-scoring hits in a five-run sixth inning as the Cougars swept a doubleheader from Minot State with a 7-2 win in game two.

USF also had a strong performance from Hanna Cress (9-8), who allowed eight hits and two runs with two strikeouts in 63 pitches. Cress earned her second straight win and picked up her ninth win of the season.

Running led the offense with three hits and three RBI plus a run scored. Senior center fielder Frankie Mickelson added three hits, a run scored and RBI while sophomore outfielder Lexie Swift had two hits, RBI and a run scored.

With the game tied at 1-1, Mickelson's run-scoring hit scored Swift for a 2-1 lead. Then with the game tied at 2-2, USF broke the game open with a five- run sixth inning. First, senior infielder Cassie Van Beek had an RBI single for a 3-2 lead. Then, with her third hit of the game Running's two-run single gave USF a 5-2 lead. Later, Swift hit a run-scoring single as the Cougars took a 7-2 lead.

With the lead, Cress shut the door in the seventh inning as the Cougars picked up their fifth straight win.