Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. -  The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 22-0 and 6-2 to Concordia University, St. Paul in their Northern Sun Intercollegaite Conference (NSIC) openers Sun., March 30 at the West St. Paul Regional Athletics Center in West St. Paul, Minn.

The Golden Eagles fall to 2-13 (0-2 NSIC), while the Golden Bears improve to 7-17 (2-2 NSIC). Sunday's games were technically home games for UMC, but played on a neutal site, as the games were moved due to weather and field conditions in Crookston, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston struggled in game one, falling 22-0 to the Golden Bears. Concordia-St. Paul was led by a strong pitching performance by Stephanie Kappes, who pitched a five-inning no-hit shutout against the Golden Eagles.

UMC's Cateline Fafard (Sr., P/1B, Dauphin, Manitoba/Elementary Education) got the start in game one for UMC and struggled. Fafard gave up 12 runs, only six of them earned, on 12 hit, in three innings pitched. Fafard would suffer the loss in game one.

The Golden Bears got three runs in the first inning but their effort was aided by a huge second inning as they plated six runs, five of them unearned. UMC was one out away from getting out of the inning with just one earned run, but an error by Allison Foley (So., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) kept things alive.

Concordia-St. Paul was led in the game by Liz Jarosz, who was 3-for-6 with two runs scored and six RBI's. In addition, Bekah Roth was 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBI's, while Teona Zepeda was 3-for-4 with four runs scored.

Alexis Fee (Jr., P, Devils Lake, N.D./Elementary Education) would come on in relief of Fafard, and give up 10 earned runs on 12 hits in 1.1 innings. Brooke Vatthauer (Jr., P/1B, Crookston, Minn./Health Science), would also pitch, giving up no hits and no earned run in 0.2 innings pitched.

The Golden Eagles would put up a fight in game two, jumping back from a tough loss in game one. Minnesota Crookston would give the ball to Paige Schaust (Sr., P/OF, Delano, Minn./Early Childhood Education) in game two. Schaust would go six innings, giving up five earned runs on nine hits, but keeping the Golden Eagles in the fray for the game.

The Golden Bears would get the game two scoring started in the top of the first when a groundout scored Zepeda to make it 1-0. Tessa Ewert then singled through the left side to plate Navaraess Honoroff to make it 2-0.

The Golden Bears would add one run in the top of the second when Elena Koncar hit a solo shot to make it 3-0.

A fourth run would be added to Concordia's lead in the top of the fourth when Zepeda singled to score Alicia Meiser and make it 4-0.

The Golden Eagles would make a dent in the lead as they got some hitting going in the bottom of the fifth off Concordia-St. Paul pitcher Linzy Heim. The Golden Eagles would get a ground-rule double from Shelby Hollinger (Jr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) to start things off. Schaust was then walked to give UMC two base-runners. Kaylin Beatty (So., UT, Equine Science) would then ground into a fielder's choice to give UMC two out with two base-runners. With two out, Ashley Manusos (Sr., OF, Spring Grove, Ill./Sports and Rec Management) would come up in the clutch driving on to deep right center to score Schaust and make it 4-1. Concordia would be able to keep the damage limited, getting out of the inning.

The Golden Bears would add one run in the top of the sixth. Koncar got a hold of the ball and drove it way over the left field fence, probably coming close to, if not hitting the field of play in the other game going on in the complex featuring Minnesota State University, Mankato and Bemidji State University. Concordia would threaten again as Meiser tripled to center field, but Josee Plante (Jr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba) would make one of the plays of the day as she caught a line drive and tagged the runner at third for the double play to save a run for UMC.

The Golden Eagles would add a run in the bottom of the sixth as Foley got ahold of one and drove it over the left field fence to leadoff the inning and make it 5-2.

Vatthauer would enter in relief of Schaust in the top of the seventh. Concordia would add one run off of Vatthauer as Roth triple and then Jarosz singled to drive her in and make it 6-2. Foley came up with a strong defensive play, making a good catch on a ball hit to her and doubling up the runner at first. The second game Sunday was highlighted by strong defensive plays for both sides throughout the entirety.

UMC would get one more opportunity to cut into the 6-2 advantage for the Golden Bears. Schaust looked to have a possible double in the gap to leadoff the inning, but a phenomenal shoe-string diving catch by Meiser would squash Schaust's hopes. Concordia would get two more outs to come away with the hard-fought 6-2 win, depsite a valiant effort for Minnesota Crookston.

Heim got the game two win for Concordia-St. Paul, going seven innings, giving up two earned runs on eight hits.

UMC's bats were led by Manusos, who was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Foley was 1-for-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

Concordia was led in game two by Zepeda, who was 3-for-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Meiser was 2-for-4 with one run scored, while Ewert was 2-for-4 with one RBI.

The Golden Eagles will return to action against Minnesota State University, Mankato Mon., March 31 at the West St. Paul Regional Athletics Center, with games slated for 10 and 12 p.m.

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).