SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - With an explosive seven-run inning, Sioux Falls Softball won their first postseason game since their transition to Division II when they defeated eighth-seeded St. Cloud State, 8-4 in the first round of the NSIC/US Bank Tournament. Going toe-to-toe with No. 2 seed and nationally ranked Winona State, a late Sioux Falls error caused USF to drop their second round game, 4-2, to the Warriors.
The Cougars, who earned the No. 9 seed in the 10-team tournament, continue play in the double-elimination tournament with a rematch against St. Cloud State at 10 a.m. tomorrow, May 1 at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls.
Breanna Black continues to be a workhorse for the Cougars in the circle, pitching 13 innings and allowing just four earned runs in her two starts. Despite the loss, the freshman right-hander is now 18-12 on the season.
No. 9 Sioux Falls 8, No. 8 St. Cloud State 4A year after dropping their first two postseason games since moving to Division II, Sioux Falls notched an 8-4 win over No. 8 seed St. Cloud State in the first round game. The ninth-seeded Cougars, who are 30-22 on the season after both games played on Thursday, used a seven-run sixth inning to push past the Huskies.
After a scoreless trip to the plate, the Cougars surrendered a run in the bottom of the first. An error allowed Abby Bunnell to reach safely, and after she stole second, Taylor Thomas reached on another Cougar fielding error. Jessica Goerger singled in Bunnell in the next at-bat, giving the Huskies (29-26) a 1-0 lead after one inning.
The Cougars went down in order in the top of the second, but Breanna Black kept the Cougars within one run with a 1-2-3 inning of her own in the bottom half. With two outs, Brooke Stetzler started the Cougar rally with an infield single then stole second to move into scoring position. Erin Scott took advantage of Stetzler's speed, notching the game-tying RBI with a single up the middle to come to a 1-1 tie.
Black worked a perfect third inning, but USF was also kept off the scoreboard in the top of the fourth, allowing SCSU to take a lead in the bottom half of the fourth. Goerger and Brooke Klontz singled to start the inning and advanced to second and third with a sacrifice bunt. Kelsie Fitch drove both runners in with a double and she would score two batters later on a Veronica Wold double, giving St. Cloud State a 4-1 lead at the end of the fourth inning.
A Megan Peterson single and Black walk gave USF two baserunners to open the fifth inning, but the Cougars couldn't capitalize. Black induced three straight outs in the fifth inning, setting up Sioux Falls for their big sixth inning.
Betsy Thomas walked to open the inning and NSIC Newcomer of the Year Danielle Walker followed with a single in the next at-bat and first-team All-NSIC designated hitter Alyson Netty drew a walk to load the bases. Leah Husemoen continued her late-season string of big hits, driving in two runs with a single to left field. Megan Peterson forced a tough play by the SCSU pitcher and reached first on an error, which scored Netty from second and tied the game at 4-4.
Taylor Jonas drew a pinch-hit walk to extend the inning and Scott came up big again with an RBI single to deep right-centerfield to give USF third first lead of the game at 5-4. Shannon Daly plated Peterson from third with a groundout and Thomas capped off the big inning for the Cougars with a two-run single down the left field line.
Black stranded the Huskies' only runner in the sixth inning and Sioux Falls failed to expand their lead with two runners on in the top of the seventh, but Black would seal the deal in the bottom of the last inning. Black overcame a one-out error in the seventh, inducing a pair of groundouts to secure the win.
No. 2 Winona State 4, No. 9 Sioux Falls 2After manufacturing two runs early in the game, Sioux Falls had second-seeded and 14th-ranked nationally Winona State on the ropes, but the Warriors (43-12) used a sixth-inning error to score three unearned runs for the 4-2 win.
The Cougars struck early for a lead in the first inning, capitalizing on a Winona State error. Erin Scott and Shannon Daly led off with singles to start the game. Danielle Walker logged an infield single and a throwing error by the WSU shortstop allowed Scott to score on the play for a 1-0 lead.
USF starting pitcher Breanna Black held the nationally-ranked Warriors off the board in the first three innings despite some traffic on the basepaths. The Mankato, Minn. native shook off a double in the first inning to throw a scoreless frame then stranded three WSU runners in the second to keep USF's lead at 1-0.
A leadoff single in the third inning gave Winona State some hope to score, but Black recorded her sixth straight scoreless inning of the day with a pair of groundouts and a flyout to end the inning.
NSIC Newcomer of the Year Danielle Walker started the Cougars' run-scoring process in the fourth inning with a one-out single to centerfield. First-team All-NSIC designated hitter Alyson Netty looped a ball down the rightfield line for a double, place herself and Walker in scoring position. After a pitching change by the Warriors, Leah Husemoen dropped a suicide squeeze bunt to score Walker from third and USF had a 2-0 lead after the top of the fourth inning.
Winona State answered the Cougars' run in the fourth with a pair of hits in their turn at the plate. Natalie Kalmes singled and came around to score on Jamee Schleis' double over the USF centerfielder's head.
The Cougars threatened in the fifth inning with a leadoff bunt single by second-team All-NSIC Brooke Stetzler, but they couldn't capitalize. Black kept USF's lead intact after dispatching the three straight Warrior hitters that followed Reed Karsten's leadoff single.
The Cougars were set down in order in the sixth inning, keeping them up by one run at 2-1. In Winona State's sixth-inning at-bat, Black appeared to escape another Winona State bases-loaded threat, but WSU would strike for three runs on a Cougar error.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Karsten hit a ball at the USF second baseman, but unable to make the play, two runs scored when the ball trickled into the outfield, giving WSU a 3-2 lead. Winona State plated one more on Ashley Walker's single through the left side, pushing their lead to 4-2.
The Cougars couldn't rebound in their final at-bat, going down in order to WSU's winning pitcher Hanna Lythberg.
