ROCHESTER, MINN. – Seniors Frankie Mickelson and Mika Rodriguez powered the University of Sioux Falls Softball Team (22-22) to a 10-2 win in five innings over Minot State in the opening round game of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Tournament on Thursday (May 13) in Rochester, Minn.

The Cougars defeated Minot State for the third time this season (10-2, 9-1 and 7-2) when USF has outscored the Beavers, 26-5. It is also USF third win in a row over MiSU in the tourney after USF won 9-7 in eighth innings in 2019 and 8-6 in 2020.

In earning the run-rule shortened tournament win, USF was led by Mickelson, who had two hits, two runs scored and three RBI. In her home town of Rochester, Minn., Mickelson hit her first home run of the season and 15^th of her career (8^th all-time at USF) to give USF a 4-0 lead in the second inning. She added a double and scored in third frame. With three RBI, she has tied Ashley Meyer (2017-19) for fifth on USF's career chart. She also recorded her 33^rd multi-hit game with her seventh this season.

Rodriguez had three hits in four at bats with an RBI and two runs scored. She recorded three hits in a game for the third time at USF this season. USF also had two hits, run scored and RBI from Shayla Running, who is now hitting .330 on the season, while Kaitlyn Van Der Zwaag and Cassie Van Beek both had a hit and RBI. In addition, USF scored double digits in runs for the fifth time this season and had double digits in hits (12) for the 12^th time in 2021.

The Cougars also had a double and three runs scored from Kennedy Thomas and a hit and run scored from second team All-NSIC honoree Damaris Cuevas, who is now hitting .437 on the season.

Van Der Zwaag (12-9), who was named first team All-NSIC on Wednesday, picked up her 12^th win of the season and her second in NSIC Tournament play (9-7 win over Minot State, 2019). She allowed six hits and one earned run in four innings. In throwing 70 pitches, she had four strikeouts and did not walk a batter. Freshman Hanna Cress worked the final inning and allowing one hit while recording a strikeout, which was her 100^th of the season.

SCORING BREAKDOWN –
The Cougars scored a single run in the first frame and broke through for six runs in the second inning for a 7-0 lead. USF added a run in the third inning and two more in the fifth frame while MiSU scored single runs in the second and third innings.

USF opened the scoring in the first inning when Kennedy Thomas reached on an error and later scored on a second error by MiSU.

In the second frame, USF scored six runs on four hits. After Running reached on an error and advanced to second on a hit by Cuevas, Mickelson hit her home run over the left center field fence for a 4-0 lead. With one out, Rachel Klassen was hit by a pitch and moved up on an error by MiSU on a ground ball by Thomas. Rodriguez had an RBI single to score Klassen. With two out, Rodriguez and Thomas executed a double steal. Then, Thomas scored on a passed ball. Rodriguez came home on an RBI single by Running as USF took a 7-0 lead.

MiSU cut the lead to 7-1 in the second inning before USF answered again as Mickelson doubled and scored on pinch hitter Kyle Madrid's single to center field for an 8-1 lead in the top of the third inning. After MiSU scored to pull within, 8-2, in the bottom half of the third frame, the Cougars added two in the fifth inning as Thomas, who doubled with two out, scored on Van Beek's run-scoring base hit. Then, Rodriguez, who had singled earlier, came home on Van Der Zwaag's base hit.