Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 13-5 to Valley City State University and 5-3 to Dickinson State University Sun., March 13 as they opened play at the Tuscon Invitational. The games were played at Lincoln Park in Tucson, Ariz.

The Golden Eagles fall to 0-10 on the season with the pair of losses. The Golden Eagles were in it right until the end in game two of the day against Dickinson State. UMC got strong pitching from Bailey Braatz (Jr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) in the circle. Braatz went six innings and gave up just seven hits and three earned runs with four strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston would be led at the plate in game two by Brooke Timmins (Sr., C, Magnolia, Texas), who was 1-of-3 with one RBI, while Kaylin Beatty (Sr., OF, Andover, Minn.) was 1-of-3 with two RBI's on the day.

Dickinson State took the early 2-0 lead in the first as Monique Yslas reached on an error by Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill.) and then Alex Vargas doubled to score Yslas. The scoring would continue as McKenna Kostelecky scored on a Grayson ground-out.

UMC would cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second when Timmins hit a single to drive in Antolak.

The Blue Hawks would add two runs in the third when Rodriguez walked with the bases loaded to score Vargas. Brenda Cruz would then hit a single with the bases still loaded to drive in Kostelecky. Braatz would pitch out of any further damage as Dickinson State would have a 4-1 lead.

In the fourth, UMC would put something together as Beatty doubled to drive in pinch-runner Sam Rarick (Fr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Sammy Kuhlow (So., 1B/OF, Big Lake, Minn.). They would cut the deficit to 4-3.

Dickinson State would extend their lead to 5-3 in the fourth when Kostelecky singled to drive in Briana Grayson.

The Blue Hawks would hold the Golden Eagles at bay for the rest of the game as they held on for the 5-3 win. Dickinson State's Abigail Brooks got the win after going six innings and giving up three earned runs on seven hits, while Braatz suffered the loss.

In game one UMC would fall 13-5 to Valley City State. UMC would be led in the game by several players who each had one hit. Alexis Khoshaba (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia) was 1-of-2 with one RBI. Maggie Morales (Fr., OF, Tucson, Ariz.) went 1-of-3 with one RBI, while Maycee Trujillo (Fr., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) was 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Heather Cunningham (So., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) would suffer the game one loss for UMC after going five innings and giving up 13 runs, only five of them earned, on 15 hits with three strikeouts.

Valley City State would take the early 3-0 advantage on UMC led by a Kelli Moore two-RBI single to drive in Kadie Anderson and Katie Cameron.

The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 3-1 in the first as Khoshaba singled to drive in Victoria Bayliss (So., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.).

The Vikings would respond with five in the second. They were led by a Cassie Pautz two-RBI single to drive in Cejay Hilhorst and Anderson.

The Golden Eagles would put together a big inning in the third to cut the lead to 8-3. Jozie Garner (Jr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) would cross the plate on a wild pitch. Foley would score later in the inning on another wild pitch.

Valley City State extended their lead to 10-3 in the fourth.

UMC cut the lead to 10-4 in the fourth as Timmins tripled to lead off the inning and Trujillo doubled to drive her home.

The Vikings would add three more in the fifth led by a Hilhorst double to drive in Cameron.

Minnesota Crookston would cut the lead to 13-5 in the fifth led by a Morales single to drive in Antolak.

The Golden Eagles will return to action with three games March 14. UMC will take on Denison University March 14 at 10 a.m. C.T. They will then take on Dickinson State at 12 p.m. C.T. UMC will round out the day at 3 p.m. C.T. against Mount Marty College.