Softball claws back for sweep of Sioux Falls

Saturday, April 23

St. Cloud, Minn.

1:00 p.m. CT

St. Cloud State

26-15, 15-6

University of Sioux Falls (S.D.)

17-20, 5-11

Sioux Falls

St. Cloud State

Alexandra Pinkowski and Raven Vanden Langenberg celebrate after AP's walkoff hit by pitch against the Cougars.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

4/23/2022 6:02:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Huskies score three runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Cougars in game two

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University softball team is back on the winning track. The Huskies earned a key sweep of Sioux Falls Saturday afternoon, defeating the Cougars 8-3 in game one and rallying in the seventh to win game two 5-4. With the wins, St. Cloud State improves to 28-15 overall and 16-6 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play.

GAME ONE: St. Cloud State (8) vs. Sioux Falls (3)
It was the Cougars held the upper hand early in game one, as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on two bloop singles. The Huskies responded in the bottom of the second, as Haley McFarlane (Swisher, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie) hit her seventh home run of the season to even the score at 1-1. St. Cloud State wasn't done scoring at that point. The Huskies added two more runs in the bottom of the third, as Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) and Sydney Trees (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake) hit RBI doubles to make it 3-1 Huskies after three.

Sioux Falls cut the lead to 3-2 with a solo home run of its own in the top of the fourth, but St. Cloud State again responded by scoring more runs in the bottom of the inning. It was again Trees who provided the RBI double, scoring both Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) and Weinberger to make it 5-2 Huskies. The same was true for the fifth inning. The Cougars once again scored one run on a solo home run, but St. Cloud State responded by scoring two later in the inning, as Kaitlyn Istvanovich (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) and Vanden Langenberg delivered the RBI hits this time around.

The Huskies would go on to win by a final score of 8-3, as they would score an extra insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove Village) singled to left field, scoring Trees from second bump St. Cloud State's lead to 8-3. Lauren Kirchberg (Columbus, Wis. / Columbus) then sent the Cougars batters down in order, securing the victory for the Huskies.

GAME TWO: St. Cloud State (5) vs. Sioux Falls (4)
The Huskies were working from behind again in game two, as Sioux Falls took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second. Twice, St. Cloud State threatened in the initial three innings, including the second and third. Haley McFarlane nabbed the team's first hit in the second but was stranded at second before Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) was robbed of a home run at the left field fence in the bottom of the third.

Sioux Falls added another run to its lead in the top of the fifth, making it 2-0 Cougars with an inning and a half left to play. When the Huskies couldn't capitalize on another scoring opportunity, Sioux Falls made it 4-0 with one swing in the top of the sixth. St. Cloud State was not about to be shut out, however, as the team put together a rally in the bottom of the sixth. Estrada hit a lead off single to open the inning and eventually scored on a two-run moonshot by Trees, cutting the lead to 4-2.

Sophie Culhane (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) kicked off the Huskies seventh inning rally, leading off the inning with a clutch pinch hit double to center field. Mitch Roberts then subbed Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) back in at second, giving St. Cloud State speed on the bases with its best hitters coming to the plate. The speedy fifth year senior advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Vanden Langenberg then scored on Weinberger's RBI single.

Estrada kept the rally going, drawing a one-out walk to put runners on first and second with one out. A bloop hit by Trees then loaded the bases, bringing McFarlane to the plate. The fifth year senior delivered, as her infield single allowed Madison Spah (Anoka, Minn. / Ramsey) to score from third, tying the game at 4-4. Alexandra Pinkowski (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake) then walked it off in the most bizarre way possible. The senior was plunked in the thigh with the bases loaded, bringing home Estrada for the 5-4 victory.

TOP HUSKIES

Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) and Haley McFarlane both went 3-4 at the plate in the game one victory and both tallied RBIs. Vanden Langenberg also scored two runs of the Huskies, while McFarlane scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the second.
Trinity Junker (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) earned her 15th win of the season, tallying five strikeouts in five innings, while Lauren Kirchberg (Columbus, Wis. / Columbus) earned her second save of the season with two innings of scoreless work.
McFarlane also went 3-4 in game two with a run and RBI, while Sydney Trees (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake) was 1-4 with one run and two RBI.
Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove Village) earned the win in game two, giving up one run on one hit in two innings of work.

UP NEXT
St. Cloud State will play its final home game of 2022 on Sunday as the team hosts SMSU at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. CT at Selke Field. The Huskies will additionally honor their three fifth year seniors in between games one and two.