Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ABERDEEN, S.D.- The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 6-0 and 2-1 to Minnesota State University Moorhead Fri., April 19 at the Moccasin Creek Softball Complex in Aberdeen, S.D. The Golden Eagles got strong pitching performances from Paige Schaust (Sr., OF/P, Delano, Minn./Early Childhood Education) and Bailey Braatz (Fr., P/1B, Buffalo, Minn./Communication), but struggled to get runs across the plate as the Dragons picked up the win.

The Golden Eagles fall to 3-26 (1-15 NSIC). MSU Moorhead improved to 11-18 with their doubleheader victory Friday.

Braatz got the start in game one for the Golden Eagles. She would pitch four innings, giving up three earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts as she fell to 0-7 on the season. Brooke Vatthauer (Jr., P/1B, Crookston, Minn./Health Science) would come in relief for UMC and pitch two innings, giving up two earned runs on five hits.

Morgan Nybo would pitch for the Dragons in game one. She would pitch a seven-inning shutout on the game, giving up just six hits with nine strikeouts as she moved to 6-9 on the season.

MSU Moorhead would start out the scoring as Taylor Huss singled to score Mollie Annen in the first inning.

The Golden Eagles had a scoring opportunity in the third inning with sinles from Shelby Hollinger (Jr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) and Josee Plante (Jr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba/Health Science) but would be unable to get a run across.

The Dragons would add two more runs in the third beginning with a Huss double to right field to score Hannah Klug. Kristen Nordby would then cross the plate on a Braatz wild pitch to extend the lead to 3-0.

MSU Moorhead would add a run in the fifth as Lauren Meeker singled to plate Huss to move the advantage to 4-0.

The Dragons would add two more runs in the sixth beginning with a Brittany York double to score Heather Tice. Shannon Smith would then single to plate York to extend the lead to 6-0.


MSU Moorhead was led by Huss, who went 3-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored. Meeker was also 3-of-4 with one RBI on the game.

UMC was paced by Hollinger, who was 2-for-3 for the game.

Schaust would get the start in the circle in game two for the Golden Eagles. The UMC ace would pitch six innings, giving up just one earned run on six hits. Schaust would go toe-to-toe in a pitcher's dual with Nordby. Nordby would pitch a complete game, giving up no earned runs on six hits, with one unearned run crossing the plate.

After strong pitching from both Schaust and Nordby, the game would remain scoreless going into the bottom of the fourth. Jill Fox would break the stalemate for MSU Moorhead with a double to score Kristy Bruni.

The Dragons would add a run in the fifth as York hit a single to plate Annen to make it 2-0.

The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 2-1 as Plante reached on a fielder's choice driving in Hollinger.

Minnesota Crookston would pose a threat in the seventh, down just 2-1, as they opened the inning with a Kaylin Beatty (So., UT, Andover, Minn./Equine Science) walk. Cateline Fafard (Sr., P/1B, Dauphin, Manitoba/Elementary Education) would then single to give UMC two runners with the tying run in scoring position and no out. However, MSU Moorhead would get a double play and a strikeout as the Dragons would hang on for the 2-1 win.

UMC was led in game two by Ashley Manusos (Sr., OF, Spring Grove, Ill./Sports and Rec Management), who went 2-of-3 and Fafard, who was 3-for-3 for the game.

MSU Moorhead would look to Bruni, who was 2-for-3 with one run scored and Fox, who was 2-of-3 with one RBI.

The Golden Eagles will continue conference play on the weekend as they face Northern State University at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Moccasin Creek Softball Complex in Aberdeen, S.D.

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).