Rochester, MN – The University of Sioux Falls softball team came away victorious on Day 2 in the morning game by a score of 8-1 against Upper Iowa on Friday. USF played in the afternoon, facing SCSU in an elimination game and came away victorious in a massive 3-2 victory to advance in the NSIC tournament.
 
Head Coach Shannon Pivovar picked up her 6^th NSIC Tournament victory, 3^rd of this season as the Cougars advance to Day 3 of the tournament!

"Huge team win - Hanna spun a gem on the mound, we stepped up defensively when we needed to and Damaris came up with a clutch pinch hit. We did it together, taking care of one another when something didn't go right and pushing further when things were working. I am so proud of the way our kids have competed through the first two days of this tournament. This group loves and cares so much for each other and isn't ready for the season to be done!", said Head Coach Shannon Pivovar.

Game 1: USF 8, UIU 1
 
The Cougars picked up an elimination game victory against Upper Iowa by a score of 8-1 on Friday morning.
 
The Cougars have enjoyed the first inning throughout the season and that continued in the first game of the day on Friday. Emma Barta led off the game with a bunt single, followed by a sacrifice bunt by Kylan Straight, and a two-run blast off red-hot Kait Van Der Zwaag to take an early 2-0 lead over Upper Iowa.
 
In the top of the 2^nd inning, the Cougars continued to add to the lead with Lexie Swift reaching by catcher's interference to start the inning. Kylie Madrid reached by error and Taryn Wagner did her part laying down a sacrifice bunt to advance Swift and Madrid to scoring position. Senior Kylan Straight continued to swing the stick well as she hit an RBI single, scoring Madrid to make it 3-0 for USF. Kait Van Der Zwaag continued her incredible weekend on the field as she hit a two-run RBI double, scoring Straight and Barta to extend the lead to 5-0. Kennedy Thomas and Rylie Jones both hit RBI singles to bring across two more runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead through three innings.
 
In the top of the 4^th inning, Kait Van Der Zwaag drew a walk to lead off the inning, followed by a single from Freshman Reese Holzhueter and a Kennedy Thomas sacrifice bunt to advance Danielle Klenke, who pinch ran for Van Der Zwaag earlier in the inning. Lexie Swift reached on error, advancing the runners, and Klenke scoring to make it an 8-0 lead for USF. The Peacocks got on the board in the bottom of the 5^th inning to make it 8-1 score. The Cougars got the remaining six outs, coming away with the victory, advancing to the next round of the NSIC tournament.
 
The Cougars finished with 10 hits on the day, led by Kait Van Der Zwaag, Kylie Madrid, and Reese Holzhueter each with two apiece, followed by Emma Barta, Kylan Straight, Kennedy Thomas, and Rylie Jones each with a base hit of their own.
 
From the circle, Kait Van Der Zwaag pitched a complete game, picking up the victory surrendering eight hits, one earned run, one walk, and striking out one Peacocks hitter on the day.
 
Game 2: USF 3, SCSU 2
 
USF picked up a massive win against SCSU by a score of 3-2 to survive and advance in the NSIC tournament.
 
The game had remained scoreless until the 5^th inning when Kennedy Thomas began the top half with a double, followed by a Rylie Jones single, and scoring a run on a Lexie Swift sacrifice fly to make it 1-0 for the Cougars. Kylie Madrid came up to the plate with a single, followed by a two-RBI pinch hit single by Damaris Cuevas, scoring Kylie Madrid and Rylie Jones to take a 3-0 lead after an error by the SCSU right fielder allowing runners to advance.
 
Hanna Cress continued her dominant performance as she held a no-hitter through five innings, first time in her career at USF and first time of one-hit ball from the circle through six innings of work. SCSU put the pressure on late in the game as they brought across two runs in the bottom of the 7^th and had the tying run reach base. Hanna Cress shut the door for the complete game shutout with a fly ball to left field as the Cougars come away with the victory by a score of 3-2 on Friday afternoon.
 
The Cougars ended the day with five hits on the day by Damaris Cuevas with the biggest one with the pinch hit RBI single to take the lead. Lexie Swift had a base knock and RBI sacrifice fly, followed by Kylie Madrid, Kennedy Thomas, and Rylie Jones each having a base hit of their own on the day.
 
From the circle, Hanna Cress had a spectacular performance with a complete game victory, surrendering three hits, one earned run, three walks, and striking out nine Huskies hitters on the day.
 
Up Next

USF Softball will return to action on Saturday at 10 a.m. on Field A and will take on the winner of the Minnesota State and Minnesota Duluth game. Follow USF Softball social media for updates throughout the season.