Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

MARSHALL, Minn. – Playing at Southwest Minnesota State Regional Event Center due to snowy conditions in Aberdeen, the Northern State University softball squad dropped a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference games to the host Mustangs on Thursday.  SMSU, who had the home field advantage despite being the visitors in the scorebook, claimed an 11-0 victory in five innings in the first game of the day and capped off the doubleheader with a 10-0 win.

The Mustangs improved to 10-14 overall and 2-0 in NSIC play, while the Wolves slipped to 3-18 overall and 0-6 in league action.

SMSU's Amanda Burkhart had three home runs on the day in the first softball games ever played at the REC, while the Mustang pitching staff of Amanda Johnson and Ali Honken held the Wolves to just four total hits and five walks.

NSU freshman Whitney Luhring broke up Johnson's perfect game and no-hitter in the bottom of the fifth, with a 1-out double to left.  Johnson did, however, finish with a complete-game shutout.

The Wolves had better luck in Game 2, as they put five players on base led by Lindsey Cegla's 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including a triple to lead off the second inning.  Honken, who picked up her first career shut-out in that game, was able to pitch around the threat, retiring the next three batters to leave what would have been the tying run on third.

SMSU held only a slim 2-0 lead through the first four innings of that game before putting together a 4-run effort in both the fifth and seventh innings to put the game out of reach.

The Wolves will be back in action on Friday, taking on Minnesota State, Mankato in a situation similar to Thursday's games.  The Mavericks will have the home field advantage, while the Wolves will be the home team in the lineup.  First pitch for Friday's conference doubleheader is slated for 2 p.m.