Sioux Falls, SD – The University of Sioux Falls softball team falls to #18 Minnesota State-Mankato in both games on Thursday afternoon.
 
Game 1: USF 2, Mankato 5
 
The Cougars fell to Minnesota State-Mankato by a score of 5-2 at Sherman Park on Thursday.
 
Mankato struck first in the top of the 2^nd inning, capitalizing on an error by USF to score the first run of the game on a fielder's choice to break the tie. The Mavericks continued to chip away in the 4^th inning as they brought across another run on a bunt single, followed by a single to left field, and reaching on error to bring the game to a 4-0 score after four innings of play.
 
Mankato brought across another run in the top of the 5^th on a single up the middle to make it 5-0. Mackenzie Ward, Mankato's pitcher had continued her stellar season in the NSIC of multiple games in a row without surrendering an earned run. It was in the 7^th inning that the Cougars brought on a late rally, breaking that streak and making a strong finish to the end of the game.
 
Kait Van Der Zwaag got the 7^th inning started reaching on a hit by pitch, followed by a Reese Holzhueter single to right field, advancing Danielle Klenke who came in to pinch run for Van Der Zwaag. Kennedy Thomas drew a walk, followed by Megan Lawson reaching on a fielder's choice to bring across Klenke for the first run of the game for the Cougars. Emma Spizziri knocked in an RBI of her own on a single to left, bringing across another run for USF. Mankato stopped the threat of the Cougars comeback, closing out the game by a score of 5-2.
 
The Cougars finished with three hits on the day by senior Kylan Straight, Reese Holzhueter, and Emma Spizzirri. From the circle, Hanna Cress took the loss, throwing four innings, surrendering six hits, five runs (one earned), walking three and striking out two Maverick hitters on the day. 
 
Game 2: USF 1, Mankato 5
 
USF fell to Minnesota State-Mankato by a score of 5-1 on Thursday evening in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
 
The pitcher's duel kept the game scoreless through the first three innings of play. The Mavericks struck first on a sacrifice fly, scoring the first run of the game in the top of the 4^th inning. The Cougars tied it up in the bottom of the 5^th inning with an RBI single by Kylan Straight, scoring Megan Lawson to make it a 1-1 ball game.
 
Minnesota State was able to manufacture a run in the bottom of the 6^th inning on an RBI groundout to break the tie, taking a lead of 2-1 going into the final inning. The Mavericks were able to bring across three more runs in the final frame, ending the ball game by a score of 5-1 to win the second game.
 
The Cougars finished with five hits on the day led by senior Kylan Straight with two, followed by Kylie Madrid, Damaris Cuevas, and Emma Spizzirri each with one hit apiece for the game.
 
From the circle, Kait Van Der Zwaag threw 6 2/3, taking the loss and surrendering 10 hits, five runs (four earned), walking zero, and striking out two Maverick hitters.
 
Up Next

The Cougars are back in action on Friday and Saturday as they'll head to St. Cloud State for a Saturday doubleheader and Sunday to University of Minnesota-Duluth for a two game set. Follow USF Softball on twitter and Instagram for updates throughout the season.