CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston fell 11-9 and 6-2 to Upper Iowa University in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) doubleheader Sunday in windy conditions at UMC Softball Field in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles fall to 4-20 (0-6 NSIC) with the two losses to Upper Iowa. The Peacocks improved to 7-17 (3-1 NSIC) with the victory. Minnesota Crookston had a five-run ninth inning to come back but fell just short in the 11-9 game.

In game one, Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) got the start against the Peacocks. Braatz went 4.2 innings and gave up nine runs, five of them earned, on 12 hits. Brooke Vatthauer (Sr., LHP, Crookston, Minn./Health Science) came on in relief and pitched well, giving up two runs, one of them earned, on five hits in 2.1 innings.

Upper Iowa got the game started with three runs in the first. Whitney Williams would score on an error to start out the inning. Erica Kirgan then singled to drive in Katie Mnichowicz. Katie Sammons reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Jacqueline Flood to make it 3-0.

The Golden Eagles added two runs in the bottom of the first. Allison Foley (Jr., SS, Lockport, Ill./Accounting) started out the scoring with a single to drive in Victoria Bayliss (Fr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education).Alexis Khoshaba (Jr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia/Sports and Rec Management) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Shelby Hollinger (Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science).

The Peacocks would add a run in the second when Flood singled to drive in Williams to make it 4-2.

UMC responded with a run of their own in the second as Josee Plante (Sr., 3B, Manitou, Manitoba) scored on an error by the catcher.

Upper Iowa would add a pair of runs in the fourth to make it 6-2. The Peacocks would extend their lead even further in the fifth with four more runs to make it 10-2. Upper Iowa's efforts were led by a Williams double to drive in Riley Kruel. Mnichowicz would hit a double to drive Williams home and chase Braatz from the game.

UMC would add a run in the fifth when Khoshaba hit a solo home run to make it 10-3.

Upper Iowa added a run in the seventh on a solo homer from Flood.

The Golden Eagles would make a charge in the seventh. Hollinger would lead the way on a two-run home run to drive in Bayliss. Plante would continue the scoring onslaught with a three-run home run to drive in Khoshaba and Kristi Larson (Jr., IF, New Ulm, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). UMC's rally would end there as the Golden Eagles fell 11-9.

The win for Upper Iowa went to Brooke Redmond, who pitched seven innings and gave up nine runs, eight of them earned, on 12 hits. The Peacocks were led in game one by Flood, who was 4-of-4 with four RBI's and three runs scored.

The Golden Eagles were led by Plante, who was 3-of-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored. Hollinger went 3-of-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

Jordyn Derflinger (Jr., RHP/OF, Henderson, Nev./Elementary Education) got the ball in game two and would give up five earned runs on nine hits in 4.1 innings in the loss.

UMC would get on the board first in the bottom of the first when Bayliss would score on a steal of home after the Peacocks' threw out Hollinger on a stolen base.

Upper Iowa would have a big inning in the third with four runs off Derflinger. Shelby Crist would score on a Mnichowicz ground out. Kirgan would hit one out of the ball park, driving in Flood. Sammons followed it up with her own home run to put the Peacocks up 4-1.

A Sammons double in the fifth would drive in Flood. Sammy Knudsen (So., RHP/OF, Fergus Falls, Minn./Health Science). would come on to relieve Derflinger later in the inning and would get UMC out of any more trouble.

The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 5-2 when Hollinger singled to drive in Kaylin Beatty (Jr., OF, Andover, Minn./Animal Science).

Upper Iowa would add one more run in the seventh as Mnichowicz would score to make it 6-2.

The win in game two for the Peacocks went to Flood, who gave up two earned runs on seven hits in seven innings in the game.

Knudsen would pitch well in relief, giving up one earned run on just two hits in 2.2 innings pitched.

UMC was led in game two by Hollinger, who was 2-of-4 with one RBI, and Beatty, who was 2-of-3 with one run scored.

Upper Iowa was led by Sammons, who was 4-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored.

The Golden Eagles will take on Minot State University March 31 in Minot, N.D. at 2 and 4 p.m.

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).