MINOT, N.D.- The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 10-2 and 11-0 to Minot State University in a mid-week doubleheader Tues., March 31 at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D. The Beaver bats were on fire on the day with 23 hits in the two games. The Golden Eagles fall to 4-22 (0-8 NSIC). Minot State improved to 22-8 (3-4 NSIC) with the win.

Minot State would get on the scoreboard first with two runs in the first. Ashley Hill started things out with a sacrifice fly to drive in Melissa Bell. Ali Cygan would then score on an error to put the Beavers up 2-0.

The Golden Eagles would knot things up 2-2 in the bottom of the third as Shelby Hollinger (Sr., 2B, Neudorf, Saskatchewan/Health Science) hit her seventh home run of the season to drive in Victoria Bayliss (Fr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich./Elementary Education).

The Beavers took the lead back 4-2 when Leyna Downey singled to drive in Rachel Burdette and Hill in the bottom of the third.

Minot State would extend their lead further to 6-2 in the fourth. The Beavers would push their lead out to 8-2 as Burdette and Alyssa Cornejo each hit home runs to make it 8-2 in the fifth. The scoring rally would continue in the fifth when Bell doubled to drive in Jordan Grant and Jenn Spencer to make it 10-2. The 10th run would end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule after five innings.

Bailey Braatz (So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) suffered the loss after going 3.2 innings and giving up six runs, five of them earned, on seven hits.

Mindy Lorimor got the win in game one for Minot State after going five innings and giving up two earned runs on four hits.

UMC was led by Bayliss in game one, who was 3-of-3 with one run scored.

In game two, UMC gave the start to Sammy Knudson (Fr., RHP/IF/Fergus Falls, Minn./Health Science). Knudson would go 1.1 innings and give up seven earned runs on six hits in the loss. Braatz would come into the game and stop the damage, giving up one earned run on one hit in 1.2 innings. Jordyn Derflinger (Jr., RHP/OF, Henderson, Nev./Elementary Education) also pitched in game two, giving up three runs, one of them earned, on four hits.


Minot State would score one in the first when Cygan doubled to drive in Grant to make it 1-0.

The Beavers would have a big second inning with seven runs to take the lead 8-0. Minot State was led by a Cornejo three-run home run to drive in Hill and Cygan. In addition, Cygan had a two-run single to drive in Rylee Cygan and
Spencer.

Minot State would add three runs in the fourth, led by a Hill solo homer. Downey and Rylee Cygan also scored on an error to make it 11-0.

Cornejo got the game two win for Minot State, pitching a four inning shutout, allowing just four hits.

UMC had four players with one hit in game two.

The Golden Eagles will take on Minnesota State University, Mankato April 3 at 1 and 3 p.m. in Mankato, Minn. They will then take on Concordia University, St. Paul April 4 at 12 and 2 p.m. in St. Paul, Minn.

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

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.