ROCHESTER, Minn. – Down three runs heading into the final half inning, MSU Moorhead softball utilized a single from senior Kiley Washnieski to come back and defeat Sioux Falls 7-6 at the NSIC Softball Tournament. 

With the win, MSUM will play Minot State at 10 a.m. tomorrow morning in hopes of continuing their season. 
 
Following a scoreless first inning, USF would open up the scoring on a wild pitch in the top of the second inning. The Dragons would load the bases in the ensuing half inning thanks to singles from Eliya Johnson and Avery Steffen along with a Kiley Washnieski walk. Unfortunately for MSUM, they would be unable to bring across the tying or go-ahead runs as the Cougars led 1-0 after two frames. 
 
Lizzy Davis would lead of the third inning with a single as would Eliya Johnson for her second hit of the game. Azalya Lopez would knock in Davis on an RBI single and push Johnson to third. However, that is all the Dragons could bring in during the frame, slicing the Cougar lead to one run. Sioux Falls would score two more runs in the fourth inning on a single with both runs being unearned due to a Dragon fielding error. 
 
MSUM would score two runs in the bottom of the fifth thanks to an RBI groundout from Eliya Johnson and an RBI single from Azalya Lopez. The runs were scored by Lizzy Davis and Ella Holiman (who was running for Mack Gallagher, who doubled earlier in the inning). Heading into the home stretch of the contest, Sioux Falls held a 4-3 lead. The Cougars would bring across one run in the top of the sixth to extend their lead back to two runs. Sioux Falls would extend their lead to 6-3 with a run in the top of the seventh.

With potentially three outs left in their season, MSUM would rally at the most important juncture of the year. 
 
Azalya Lopez would single in Mack Gallagher to take the score to 6-4. Annika Norman would then single to bring in Eliya Johnson to cut the lead to one run. Grace Oeltjen and Hannah Losee would pinch run for Lopez and Norman, who were on first and second respectively. 
 
And then Kiley Washnieski stepped to the plate with two outs. 
 
Washnieski worked to a two-strike count, carefully fouling off a number of pitches to find what she liked. Eventually, she found her pitch. The senior singled to right field, which scored Oeltjen to tie the game. Losee sped around third and also scored to secure a Dragon victory with Washnieski the hero.
 
The win is MSUM's first NSIC Tournament victory since May 3, 2008.