Marshall, MN – The University of Sioux Falls softball team split the opening doubleheader against SMSU on Monday afternoon. The Cougars came away with a come from behind 11-7 victory in Game 1 and dropped a 3-0 contest to SMSU in Game 2.
 
Game 1: USF 11, SMSU 7
 
The Cougars fought throughout the whole game to come away with a victory in the 1^st game of conference play with an 11-7 score on Monday afternoon.
 
USF started the game getting on the board twice in the top half of the first inning. Lexie Swift got things started with a walk, followed by a bunt single by senior Kylan Straight. Kait Van Der Zwaag came up to the plate, reaching on error and bringing across Lexie Swift and Kylan Straight for the first two runs of the game.
 
The Mustangs countered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the 2^nd inning on a fielder's choice to bring in the first run for SMSU. The Mustangs tacked on three more on a home run by Johnson, bringing the score to 4-2. The Cougars answered in the top of the 3^rd when Kylie Madrid and Reese Holzhueter hit back to back doubles to tie the game up at 4-4. The runs continued as SMSU answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning, making it a 7-4 lead.
 
The Cougars gained a run back in the top of the 4^th when Lexie Swift hit a hard ground ball to right, scoring Damaris Cuevas to put the game within two runs. The Cougars Jayden Haley came in as a pinch hitter and got a timely hit, brining across Emma Barta to make it a one-run ball game, shutting down the Mustangs in the bottom half, heading to the 7^th inning.
 
The Cougars bats stayed hot as Kennedy Thomas entered the game as a pinch hitter, doubling to left field and tying the game for the Cougars with Kylie Madrid crossing home plate. Jayden Haley continued her clutch performance as she doubled to right field, scoring Danielle Klenke and Kennedy Thomas to take the first lead of the game for the Cougars. USF tacked on two more insurance runs on a Lexie Swift ground ball, scoring Emma Barta and Jayden Haley to take a commanding 11-7 lead going into the bottom of the 7^th inning.
 
From the circle, Bailee Lampman picks up the victory as she came in for the final 4 1/3 innings, surrendering only one hit, zero runs, one walk, and four strikeouts on the day. The Cougars ended the game with 12 hits, led by Lexie Swift, Reese Holzhueter, and Jayden Haley with multiple hits on the day.
 
Game 2: USF 0, SMSU 3
 
USF dropped game two as SMSU came away with a 3-0 victory on Monday afternoon.
 
The Cougars faced a tough opponent in the circle as SMSU's Miller pitched a complete game, surrendering only four hits, zero runs, and striking out five USF hitters on the day. The Mustangs were able to bring across a run in the 2^nd, followed by a run both in the 5^th and 6^thinnings as they chipped away for a 3-0 victory.
 
The Cougars ended the day with two hits but were unable to capitalize as USF faced a tough SMSU pitcher in game two.
 
From the circle, Kait Van Der Zwaag pitched six innings, surrendering eight hits, three runs (two earned), walking one, and striking out four Mustang hitters on the day. 
 
Up Next
The Cougars are headed back home before heading to Fayette, IA to face off against Upper Iowa on Saturday April 2 and Winona State on Sunday for back to back NSIC doubleheaders. Follow along on the USF Softball twitter and Instagram for updates leading up to the games ahead.