Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4 CLERMONT, Fla. - The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team has opened up the 2014 season with a 1-3 record over their first two days of games in Clermont, Fla. The Golden Eagles' first two days was highlighted by their first win of the season, a 4-1 victory over Slippery Rock University. Minnesota Crookston was knotted at 1-1 with the Rock when Ashley Manusos (Sr., OF, Spring Grove, Ill.) came up in a big way with a three-run shot to catapult the Golden Eagles to a victory.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the 2014 season Friday against Ursuline College out of Pepper Pike, Ohio. The Arrows came away with a 9-1 win over the Golden Eagles in five innings, as they won on run-rule. The Golden Eagles looked to Paige Schaust (Sr., P, Delano, Minn.) in the start. Schaust would go the full five innings of game one of the season, suffering the loss.

Golden Eagles lone run of game on crossed as Alexis Khoshaba (So., OF, Richmond, British Columbia) hit a single to drive in Alison Foley (So., SS, Lockport, Ill.), who had reached on an error on a sacrific bunt.

In game two Friday, Minnesota Crookston would fall to Alderson-Broaddus College out of Philippi, W.V. 9-3 in a full seven-inning game. The Golden Eagles looked to freshman Bailey Braatz (P, Buffalo, Minn.) in her first collegiate start. Braatz would go all seven innings giving up nine runs, not all of them earned. Braatz would take the loss for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles would have a solid performance at the plate. Kaylin Beatty (So., OF/IF, Andover, Minn.) would score a run and have an RBI for Minnesota Crookston. In addition, Khoshaba had two singles with one RBI and Manusos had a double and scored a run for the Golden Eagles. Josee Plante (Jr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba) would have an RBI single while Shelby Hollinger (Jr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan) scored a run on the game.

Saturday, UMC opened up play against Assumption College out of Worcester, Mass. The Golden Eagles fell 5-0 to the Greyhounds. Cateline Fafard (Sr., P, ) started in the circle for Minnesota Crookston. Fafard would pitch until the fifth inning when she was pulled when she was hit by a line drive in the shin. Fafard would suffer the loss on the game. Sammy Knudson (Fr., P/UT, Fergus Falls, Minn.) would replace Fafard in her first action for the Golden Eagles. Knudson would pitch the remainder of the fifth inning and the sixth while Crookston-native Brooke Vatthauer (Jr., P) would come on and pitch the seventh for UMC.

The Golden Eagles were led at the plate by Manusos, who had two doubles, and Schaust who had two singles. Brooke Timmins (So., C, Magnolia, Texas) added a single to round out UMC's hitting. Minnesota Crookston would be unable to produce a run though.

Minnesota Crookston would put together their best showing in game two Saturday in Clermont, Fla. against Slippery Rock University out of Slippery Rock, Pa. The rock is 2-5 on the season. Braatz would get the ball for her second start of her career and would pitch well, going the first four innings for Minnesota Crookston and would hand over the ball to Schaust. The senior pitcher would go the final three innings and would earn the win for Minnesota Crookston.

The first run for the Golden Eagles would cross in the fourth inning when a Schaust single drove in Plante, who had reached on the fielder's choice.

After Slippery Rock knotted it up 1-1, the Golden Eagles would respond with a big seventh inning. Schaust would start the inning off with a single but would be thrown out trying to steal. Braatz then popped out giving UMC two outs. With two outs though UMC went to work. Timmins would reach on a double, putting the go-ahead run in scoring position. Hollinger would then reach on a single giving the Golden Eagles two-base runners.

Manusos then came up in a big way with a three-run shot to drive home herself along with Timmins and Hollinger to make it 4-1, which would send Minnesota Crookston to their first victory of the year.

UMC was led on the game by two singles from Schaust, along with a single and a double from Timmins and Manusos' home run.

The Golden Eagles will continue play in Clermont, Fla. with two more games tomorrow before an off-day Monday in which they will travel to Clearwater, Fla. for an off day which also coincides with the baseball team's off-day in Clearwater, Fla. Minnesota Crookston plays Ursuline College for a second time at 4 p.m. at Hancock Park Sun., March 16 in Clermont, Fla. They will then play Merrimack College at 6 p.m. Sunday.

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

Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

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).