WEST ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program opened up the 2015 season with a 3-1 loss to Minot State University. The Golden Eagles got a strong performance in the circle from Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). Braatz went five innings and gave up three earned runs on five hits. Wednesday's game at the West St. Paul Sports Center in West St. Paul, Minn., was the UMC coaching debut for Don Stopa, who is in his first year in the Maroon and Gold.

The Golden Eagles also got a strong pitching performance from Brooke Vatthauer (Sr., RHP, Crookston, Minn./Health Science) who went one inning and gave up one hit in relief. UMC was led at the plate by Shelby Hollinger (Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science), who was 1-of-3 and Kristi Larson (Jr., IF, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), who was also 1-of-3.

Minot State scored first as Melissa Bell hit a home run to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the first. The Golden Eagles knotted things up as Allison Foley (So., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) scored as Alexis Khoshaba (Jr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia/Sports and Rec Management) reached on an error.

The Beavers would score two more runs in the bottom of the fifth when Leyna Downey was walked in and Jordan Grant scored on a fielder's choice.

Minot State's Alyssa Cornejo got the win on the game. Cornejo went seven innings and gave up just one run, which was unearned, on three hits.

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