Box Score MANKATO, Minn. – The Northwest Missouri State University softball team managed five hits, but came up on the short end of an 8-0 decision to Southwest Minnesota State at the Portolite & Field Turf MSU Invitational held at the Mavericks All-Sports Dome.
 
SMSU (1-0 overall) notched two runs in the third to break a scoreless tie. The Mustangs added three runs in the fourth to open up a 5-0 advantage over the Bearcats (0-2 overall).
 
Jacee Winn recorded Northwest's first hit of the game after SMSU starter Shelby Bloemendaal retired the first 10 Bearcat batters.
 
The Mustangs strung together a double and single to add a single run in the top of the fifth to push their lead to 6-0.
 
Lauren Gray drew a one-out walk in the bottom of the fifth. Ady Watts followed with a single to right-center to give the Bearcats a pair of runners on base. But the Bearcat rally fell short after a pair of ground ball outs from Aubrey Griffith and Avery Anderson.
 
SMSU pushed across its seventh run of the game on a wild pitch with runners on second and third with two outs in the top of the sixth.
 
The Bearcats threatened in the sixth with a pair of runners in scoring position. Skylar Pieper led off with a single to right. Following a strikeout, pinch hitter Sophie Mayhugh came through with a double down the left field line. However, Abby Nolte was retired on a comebacker to the pitcher and Alexis Kump flied out to right to end the inning.
 
The Mustangs final tally in the seventh was also plated on a Dickey wild pitch.
 
Northwest starter Breck Dickey struck out nine batters – one off her career-high of 10 strikeouts vs. Lincoln (April. 13, 2021). Dickey went the distance in the circle. She allowed 14 hits and eight runs (seven earned) as she threw 147 pitches. Dickey only walked one batter.
 
Northwest will be back in action Saturday with a 9 a.m. contest vs. Concordia-St. Paul and an 11 a.m. matchup with Minnesota-Duluth.