TUSCON, Ariz. – The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles were unable to repeat yesterday's success and suffered two losses in Tucson, Ariz. First, they battled against Marian University in an 8-4 loss, and followed that up with an 8-0 fall to University of Dubuque.

In game one, Jordyn Derflinger (Jr., OF/P, Henderson, Nev./Elementary Education) took the mound, but was unable to keep the visiting Sabres at bay. In the visitor's first at-bats, with one runner on, Gorges took one deep for a 2-run home run.

The Golden Eagles found a way to get on the scoreboard as well. Victoria Bayliss (Fr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education) led off for UMC and got on first with a single. Alexis Khoshaba (Jr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia/Sports and Rec Management) continued her hitting ways and brought home team's first run with an RBI single.

In the second inning, the Marian University got a run back, courtesy of two singles followed by an RBI groundout. The UMC softball team chipped away in the bottom of that frame, when Kristi Larson (Jr., IF, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) scored on an error by Sabre defense, 3-2 Marian.

One inning later, the Sabres were able to put up a three-spot on the Golden Eagles. Terrian's single loaded the bases, giving a chance to Dorn for her 2 RBI double. Two hitters later, Labeck found a gap as well and sent a sixth visiting run to score.

UMC did not back down and answered with two of their own. Allison Foley (Jr., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) and Khoshaba began the frame with back-to-back hits, a solo home run for Foley and a double for Khoshaba. Thanks to an error, Khoshaba scored as well and the scoreboard read 6-4 in the visiting team's favor.

Unfortunately, that was all the Golden Eagles were capable of offensively, and the Sabres posted one run in the fourth and sixth. The home team's at-bats in the bottom of the fourth through seventh produced no fruit, causing them to fall to Marian by the score of 8-4.

After suffering the loss to Marian, the UMC's softball team tried to turn the day around against University of Dubuque later that afternoon. The odds were, however, not in their favor, and a 0-8 loss was awaiting them.

The Golden Eagles were the home team once again, which gave Dubuque a chance to take an early lead. Two singles in a row with two outs sent first run of the ballgame home. Aside from Shelby Hollinger
(Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) getting walked in the bottom of the first, it was Dubuque getting back on the offensive side. An error in the top of the second scored visitor's second run. With one out, Billesbach doubled, and runners on second and third meant Schmidt's single was worth 2 RBIs.

Bottom of the third inning rolled around and the UMC ladies were finally able to break Dubuque's no-hitter. Bayliss' single did the trick, but produced no runs. The game was put away by the visitor in top of the fourth. That is when four total runs crossed home. With one runner on and two outs, another Billesbach double put runners on second and third once again. Schmidt's base hit plated one run, Smith's double two of them, and the last, eighth run of the ballgame got home safely on Gerace's single. Aside from a hit-by-pitch in the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles were unable to fight back in any way, and dropped their third game in Arizona.

Former UMC player Ashley Manusos is currently a graduate assistant coach for Dubuque.
   
Head Coach Don Stopa's team will return to Lincoln Park for another three-game day on Wednesday, and close out their spring trip in Arizona with a double-header on Friday.

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).