Sioux Falls, SD – The University of Sioux Falls softball team swept the first home doubleheader of the season versus MSU-Moorhead on Saturday afternoon. Game 1 finished with a score of 7-2 for the Cougars and Game 2 wrapped up in walk-off fashion by a score of 8-7 for USF.
 
Game 1: USF 7, MSUM 2
 
The Cougars came away with a victory in Game 1 against MSUM by a score of 7-2. 
 
The Cougars were busy in the bottom of the 1^st inning yet again as Lexie Swift led off with a hard hit single to center field, stealing 2^ndbase, and scoring on Kylan Straight's fielder's choice to bring across the first run of the contest. Kylie Madrid's RBI single and Reese Holzhueter joined the party with back to back singles of their own & Kennedy Thomas hit an RBI double, scoring Madrid to make it 3-0. Emma Barta came up with an RBI single of her own, followed by a Damaris Cuevas sacrifice fly to make it 5-0 after the 1^st inning.
 
In the bottom of the 2^nd inning, senior speedster Kylan straight drew a walk, stole 2^nd base and advanced to 3^rd on a flyout by Kylie Madrid. Reese Holzhueter drew a walk of her own and during Kennedy Thomas' at bat, senior speedster Kylan Straight STOLE HOME, advancing Reese Holzhueter to 2^nd base on a defensive indifference! The Cougars took a 6-0 lead through two innings.
 
MSUM brought across two runs in the top of the 3^rd inning to make it a 6-2 ball game. The game remained 6-2 for USF until the 5^th inning when Taryn Wagner led off with a single, followed by three straight walks by Megan Lawson, Lexie Swift, and Emma Spizzirri brining the score and final to 7-2 for the Cougars. 
 
From the circle, Hanna Cress came away with the victory, throwing a complete game and surrendering two unearned runs, five hits, zero walks, and seven strikeouts on the day. 
 
The Cougars ended with 10 hits on the day, led by Kylie Madrid, Emma Barta, and Taryn Wagner with two hits apiece and Lexie Swift, Reese Holzhueter, Kennedy Thomas, and Rylie Jones each getting a base knock of their own.
 
Game 2: USF 8, MSUM 7
 
USF came away with a walk-off victory in Game 2 against MSU-Moorhead for the doubleheader sweep on Saturday afternoon.
 
In the bottom of the 1^st inning, the Cougars got on the board with a two-run blast by senior Kylie Madrid to take an early 2-0 lead on the MSUM Dragons. MSU-Moorhead answered back with four runs in the top of the 2^nd inning to take a 4-2 lead early in the contest.
 
The Cougars quickly answered back in the bottom half of the 2^nd inning with a lead off walk by Emma Barta, followed by a sacrifice by Megan Lawson, and an RBI single by Taryn Wagner to make it a 4-3 ball game. USF continued to put the pressure on in the 3^rd inning with a walk by Reese Holzhueter to get the inning started, followed by an RBI double from Kennedy Thomas to tie the ball game. The Cougars took the lead with RBI singles by Emma Barta and Damaris Cuevas to take a 7-4 lead.
 
MSU-Moorhead wouldn't go away as a hard-hit ball to 2^nd basemen Emma Barta scoring two unearned runs for the Dragons in the 4^thinning. The game stayed a one run ball game until the 7^th inning when MSUM brought across the tying run in the top of the 7^th to tie it up at seven apiece.
 
The Cougars answered the bell in the bottom of the 7^th inning with a lead off walk by Reese Holzhueter, followed by a Kennedy Thomas single to put the pressure on the Dragons defense. Emma Barta laid down a great fielder's choice bunt, putting the Dragons on their heels and all runners were safe to load the bases with no outs. Megan Lawson came up to the plate, taking a disciplined approach and taking a walk, bringing across the winning run by Reese Holzhueter and a win for the Cougars by a score of 8-7 for the series sweep!
 
From the circle, Bailee Lampman threw five innings, surrendering six runs (four earned), surrendering three hits, walking two, and striking out three MSUM hitters. Hanna Cress pitched two innings, allowing three hits, 1 earned run, walking two, and striking out one MSUM hitter on the day.
 
The Cougars ended with eight hits on the day, led by Kennedy Thomas with two base knocks and Lexie Swift, Kylan Straight, Kylie Madrid, Emma Barta, Damaris Cuevas, and Taryn Wagner each had one hit of their own for the Cougars. A true team effort at the plate today to come away with the victory.
 
Up Next

The Cougars are back in action tomorrow, Sunday April 10^th where they'll host Northern State for an NSIC doubleheader to cap off the weekend of home games. Keep up with all the news, updates, and highlights on USFCougars.com and the USF Softball social media accounts!