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Sioux Falls, S.D. – Playing on elimination Friday of the NSIC/US Bank Softball Tournament, the Northern State University Wolves fell to Southwest Minnesota State 3-5. With the loss, the Wolves finish the season with a single season record 33 wins in 2015.
 
The Southwest bats were hot from the get go, as the Mustangs tallied four runs in the first three innings of play. Northern answered back with a run in the bottom of the second off the bat of Brittney Lash. The sophomore connected for a long ball to left center field, and the Wolves cut the lead to two.
 
Northern was kept off balance by SMSU starter O'Connor recording nine fly-outs in the middle innings of play. After the Mustangs added a run in the seventh, the Wolves were down to their final three outs.
 
Courtney Moore entered the game to pinch hit for Katelynn Dilts and drew only the second walk of the game. With two outs and a runner on first, Lauren Kunz stepped to the plate and connected for her first career homerun, a high fly ball over the right field fence. Kunz brought the Wolves within two, however Northern was unable to continue the rally and fell in the game.
 
Senior Kami Smesmo pitched her final game in a Wolves uniform throwing a complete seven innings. Smesmo gave up four earned runs on eight hits and struck out six. The NSU record holder finished the season with a 20-12 record overall. Fellow senior Eryn Yancy also exhausted her eligibility having her best season to date, finishing the year with a .324 average and a single season record tying nine homeruns.
 
Kelsey Gale was the only Wolves batter to record multiple hits in the loss. Michaela Liebl and Kalie Maiden connected for a hit apiece, bringing the team total to six.