ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 12-1 in game one of the day to Bemidji State University. In game two, UMC game back and made things interesting, but fell 5-4 to Minot State University. Both contests were part of the Husky Dome Tournament at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.
The Golden Eagles fall to 0-6 on the season with the pair of losses. Minot State improved to 5-2 on the season, while Bemidji State moved to 5-1 on the season.
In game one, Bemidji State took control very quickly as they got on the board with nine runs in the first inning. The Beavers were led by a two-run single by Alayna Krejci to drive in Lyndsey Peterson and Alexandra Ripka. In addition, Angie Roberts had a triple to drive in Krejci. Ripka had a two-RBI single to drive in Mikayla Osterman and Jessica Burlingame.
The Beavers would add to the lead in the second with a solo home run from Kelsey McAllister.
In the third, Bemidji State would add two more runs.
The Golden Eagles got their only run of the game as
Maggie Morales (Fr., OF, Tucson, Ariz.) hit a sacrifice fly to drive in
Victoria Bayliss (So., 2B, West Bloomfield, Mich.).
UMC was led by Bayliss, who was 2-of-2 with one run scored.
Bailey Braatz (Jr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the start in game one and struggled, giving up 10 earned runs on 10 hits in two innings. In relief,
Sammy Knudson (Jr., RHP, Fergus Falls, Minn.) would go three innings and give up just two earned runs on five hits.
Jenna Masingill would get the win for Bemidji State after going three inning and giving up just one earned run on three hits.
In game two, Minot State would get on the board first. Rachel Burdette would single to drive in Jordan Grant. Sarah Nicks then doubled to drive in Burdette and Lauren Cowden.
The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 3-2 in the third as
Alexis Khoshaba (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Ciolumbia) singled to drive in
Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill.) and Bayliss.
In the fifth, Grant would cross the plate on a
Heather Cunningham (So., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) wild pitch. The Beavers would extend their lead to 5-1 on an Ashley Hill home run.
UMC would make a comeback in the sixth as
Gabriel Antolak (So., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.).
Maycee Trujillo (Fr., C/3B, Sioux Falls, S.D.) then hit a solo bomb of her own.
Clarissa Ramirez would shut the Golden Eagles down in the final inning to pick up the save. Alyssa Cornejo got the win after giving up two earned runs on four hits. Ramirez got the save after giving up two earned runs on four hits in three innings.
Cunningham got the UMC start and gave up five earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts.
Mikayla Jones (Fr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) came on in relief and gave up five earned runs on seven hits.
UMC was led in game two by Morales, who was 2-of-4. Khoshaba went 1-of-3 with two RBI's, while Antolak was 1-of-3 with one RBI and one run scored.
Minnesota Crookston will continue play in the Husky Dome Tournament as they face Concordia University, St. Paul Sun., Feb. 28 at 9 a.m. and Minot State University Sun., Feb. 28 at 1 p.m.
