TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team put together their most successful day of the season by winning 2-of-3 Tues., March 15 at Lincoln Park. The Golden Eagles started out the day with a dominant 6-0 win over Valley City State University led by the first career victory on the mound from Mikayla Jones (Fr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa). UMC fell just short in a 5-4 loss to Mayville State in game two, but bounced back to take game three of the day 11-6 over Mayville State led by Gabriel Antolak (So., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.), who was 3-of-3 with four RBI's on the game.

Minnesota Crookston moved to 2-14 with the 2-1 record on the day.

UMC was led in game one by the shutout performance on the mound from Jones, who went seven innings and gave up no runs on six hits with three strikeouts on the game. The outing was the best of Jones' young career.

UMC would get on the board first in the first frame when Victoria Bayliss (So., 2B, West Bloomfield, Mich.) singled in Jozie Garner (Jr., OF, Eureka, Minn.).

The Golden Eagles added three in the second inning. Maycee Trujillo (Fr., C/3B, Sioux Falls, S.D.) started things off with a two RBI single to drive in Kate Howell (Jr., OF, Badger, Minn.) and Sammy Kuhlow (So., 1B/OF, Big Lake, Minn.). Garner would add to the lead in the second with a single that led to an error by the short stop, which scored Kristi Larson (Sr., 1B, New Ulm, Minn.).

Minnesota Crookston would add two runs in the fourth. Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill.) would reach on an error by the third baseman, allowing Garner to score. Alexis Khoshaba (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia) then reached on a fielder's choice, driving Foley in to make it 6-0.

UMC was led in game one by Garner, who was 3-of-4 with two runs scored. Bayliss went 2-of-4 with one run scored.

In game two, Bailey Braatz (Jr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the start in the circle and would through a complete game, giving up five runs on 10 hits with four walks and two strikeouts. Braatz would suffer the loss.
Mayville State would get on the board first in the first frame when Nina Gurgian doubled to drive in Alexandra Tinoco and make it 1-0.

UMC answered in the second with a solo shot from Khoshaba to knot it up 1-1.

The Comets would go up 3-1 in the third when Macias blasted a two-run home run to drive in herself and Rodriquez.

The Comets added a run in the fifth when Daisy Macias crossed the plate on a Gurgian ground out.

UMC would cut the lead to 4-2 in the fifth as Bayliss scored on an errant through to second by the catcher.

Mayville State added a fifth run in the sixth when Tiffany Soria singled to drive in Lauren Coronado.

Minnesota Crookston rallied for two runs in the seventh as Antolak singled to drive in Foley and Garner. UMC would fall just short 5-4.

The Golden Eagles were led in the game by Khoshaba, who was 2-of-4 with one run and one RBI on the home run. Antolak was 1-of-4 with two RBIs, while Garner and Bayliss were both 2-of-4 with one RBI.

In game three, UMC's bats came alive for 16 hits. The Golden Eagles were led by Antolak, who was 3-of-3 with four RBI's. Foley was 2-of-4 with three RBI's and two runs scored, while Garner was 3-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

Minnesota Crookston started off the scoring in the first. Foley would triple to drive in Bayliss. Antolak followed it up with a sacrifice fly to drive in Foley.

Mayville State responded in the first to cut it to 2-1 as Gurgian doubled in Macias..

The Golden Eagles would extend the lead to 5-1 in the third. Foley doubled to drive in Garner. Antolak then came through with a two RBI single to drive in Foley and Ashley Hoyle (Sr., 2B, Blaine, Minn.).

Mayville State would cut the deficit to 5-4 in the third. Tinoco would double to drive in Kiana Ishikawa. Gurgian then hit a two-run home run to drive in herself and Tinoco.

The Golden Eagles got their lead out to 8-4 in the fourth. Larson singled and allowed Kaylin Beatty (Sr., OF, Andover, Minn.) to score on an error. Foley then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Morgan Duda (Fr., IF, Clinton Township, Mich.. Antolak would round things out with a single to drive in Larson.

Mayville State cut the lead to 8-6 in the fourth. Ishikawa would double to drive in Danielle Sheridan. Tinoco then hit a sacrifice fly to plate Ishikawa and cut the lead to 8-6.

UMC would respond with a two-run home run from Trujillo to extend the lead to 10-6. They would solidify their win with a Garner single in the seventh to drive in Beatty.

The win went to Heather Cunningham (So., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) , who went seven innings and gave up six runs on 13 hits.

UMC will return to action March 17 as they take on Mayville State University and Robert Morris University (Illinois).