May 3, 2023

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The University of Sioux Falls softball team took on Concordia-St. Paul in the opening round of the NSIC Tournament followed by Minnesota Moorhead. The Cougars fell against the Golden Bears and Dragons 5-4 and 7-6 to end their season 24-26.

Concordia-St. Paul – L, 5-4

St. Paul jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when the sent a solo homerun over the center field fence. Sioux Falls responded with one of their own when Rylie Jones doubled to left field to score Kennedy Thomas.

With a hard shot up the middle, the Golden Bears jumped back out to a one-run lead to end the third.

Kait Van Der Zwaag, whom was awarded the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award before today's game, doubled to right center field to score Kylie Madrid and Taryn Wagner to give the Coo their first lead of the game.

CSP answered back with a three-run inning in the top of the sixth to go up 5-3 before USF was able to respond with one run by Allie McCabe in the bottom of the sixth.

Jones led the Cougars in game one as she went 2-for-2 at the plate with one double. Van Der Zwaag led with two RBIs against the Golden Bears followed by Jones and Megan Lawson each with one.

Hanna Cress started in the circle for Sioux Falls pitching 4.0 innings with three strikeouts while facing 18 batters. Van Der Zwaag came in on relief to throw 2.1 innings while giving up three runs.

Minnesota Moorhead – L, 7-6

Sioux Falls jumped out to an early 2-0 lead when Meghan Jochimsen scored on a wild pitch in the top of the second and Megan Lawson scored Reese Holxhueter in the top of the third.

Moorhead answered with one run in the third before Rylie Jones hit a two RBI single to score Makenzie Weber and Lexie Swift for the Coos largest lead of the game.

MSUM tacked on two runs in the fifth to trail 4-3 just before USF responded with two of their own off the bats of Jones and Kylie Madrid.

With a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, Sioux Falls gave up four runs against the Dragons to fall 7-6 and ending their 2023 campaign.

Swift led the squad going 3-for-4 at the plate followed by Holzhueter, Jones and Lawson each with two hits on the game. Jones also paved the way with three RBIs.

Kait Van Der Zwaag made what would be her final start in the circle for the Coo as she threw for 4.0 innings giving up just one run. Hanna Cress came in on relief to face 16 batters with one strike out.

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