(Titusville, Fla.) – The University of Minnesota, Crookston Women's Softball team closed out the Cocoa Expo going 2-2 in the final two days and 5-5 overall. UMC defeated Fisher College 11-3, fell to Huntington University 1-0, fell to MSU Moorhead 5-2 and defeated Greenville College 4-3 in the final game of spring training.

The Golden Eagles downed Fisher College in six innings. UMC was led by Kayla Bowar (SS, 5-4, Sr, Moorhead, Minn.) who went 4-4 (1.000) with two doubles, three runs scored and a 1.500 slugging percentage. Stacey Marcum (P, 5-7, So, Merill, Wis.) went 2-4 (.500) with two double, four RBI and a 1.000 slugging percentage. Erin Fowle (P, 5-8, So, Winnipeg, Manitoba) threw four innings in the victory. She gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out four batters. Paige Schaust (OF, 5-7, Fr, Delano, Minn.) finished up the game with two innings pitched. She gave up two hits, one earned run and struck out four batters.

The nightcap against Huntington University was a pitchers' duel. UMC's Stacey Marcum was dialed in as she pitched one of the best games of her career. She earned a one-hit shutout in the game striking out eight Huntington batters. The Huntington pitcher struck out 14 Golden Eagles and gave up just two hits. The game was decided in the bottom of the eighth inning with the international tie breaker rule in effect with a runner starting on second base. In the top of the eighth the Golden Eagles sacrifice the runner to third and then tried to score on a pop fly to the second baseman that was caught behind first base. The runner was thrown out at home to end the threat. Huntington sacrificed their runner over and she scored on a play at the plate on a ground ball to the shortstop. Kayla Bowar got both hits for the Golden Eagles. Marcum pitched 7.1 innings and gave up one run (none earned).

Kayla Bowar and Fowle led the Golden Eagles at the plate against the Dragons. They were both 2-4 (.500) at the dish. Bowar had one double and one run scored while Fowle had one RBI. Like the previous games this season against the Dragons, UMC struggled to drive runners in. The Golden Eagles outhit the Dragons 9-7 but left 10 runners on base in the loss.

UMC closed out the 2011 spring training with a 4-3 victory over Greenville College. Rachel Schoenborn (2B, 5-4, Fr, Anchorage, Alaska), Katie Bowar (1B, 5-4, Sr, Moorhead, Minn.) and Fowle led the Golden Eagles in the final game. All three went 2-3 (.667) at the plate. Katie Bowar had two RBI while Fowle and Schoenborn each scored a run. Steph Thomas (P/DP, 5-9, Sr, St. Albert, Alberta) earned the victory throwing all seven innings. She gave up eight hits while striking out five batters.

Kayla Bowar had a sensational week batting .529 (18-34), hitting five doubles, nine RBI and scoring seven runs. She had a .676 slugging percentage, two stolen bases and 28 assists. Steph Thomas went 3-0 in the pitchers circle. She had a 1.52 ERA and two complete games in 23 innings pitched. She gave up 18 hits, seven runs (five earned) and struck out 17 batters.

Minnesota, Crookston is 6-8 overall this season. The team now opens the NSIC season on April 2-3 at Winona State and Upper Iowa. Game times are set for 1 p.m. and noon respectively.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).


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