CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston Softball put together very competitive games against a formidable opponent on Senior Day against the University of Sioux Falls. The Golden Eagles would take game one 9-4 against a strong Sioux Falls squad. They would lose game two in a highly contested 10-6 battle. The Golden Eagles improve to 8-34 overall and 2-21 in conference play. Sioux Falls improves to 29-16 overall and 13-9 in the NSIC.

In game one, both teams put on good hitting performances. Minnesota Crookston's win would be highlighted by Sammy Kuhlow's (So., OF/1B, Big Lake, Minn) grand slam in the second to propel her team in front and they would never look back.

In the first inning, UMC would jump on the Cougars early as they quickly loaded the bases. Khulow would step up to bat with confidence in an opportune moment as she swung for the fences and connected to hit a grand slam. Gabby Antolak (So., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.), Victoria Bayliss (So., 2B/OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.), and Jozie Garner (Jr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) would score on the play. Maycee Trujillo (Fr., C/3B, Sioux Falls, S.D.) would foul out to the catcher to finish the inning.

Action would resume in the top of the third as Sioux Falls managed to hit two home runs in almost the exact same spot to put the score at 4-2 with Minnesota Crookston in the lead.

The Golden Eagles would not let the Cougars gain confidence as they bounced back to score three runs of their own in the bottom of the third. Antolak led off and hit a bomb to center field hitting the second home run of the game for UMC. Trujillo would follow suit and hit a homer to left field bringing in Kuhlow on the play, as well. The inning would end with three runs on four hits with the Golden Eagles up 7-2.

Sioux Falls would again try to put a dent in the lead in the fourth hitting after another home run but pitcher Mikayla Jones (Fr., P/IF, Huxley, Iowa) and the Minnesota Crookston defense wouldn't allow any more hits in the inning to keep their lead safe at 7-3.

In the fifth, UMC would further their lead with a couple of runs highlighted by a hit by Morgan Duda (Fr., IF, Clinton Township, Mich) that led to an RBI.

Sioux Falls would give their best effort to close the gap hitting another home run in the sixth but suffocating defense would eliminate any shot of a comeback. The Golden Eagles would go on to secure their lead in the seventh and come away with a 9-4 victory.

Jones would pick up the win for the Golden Eagles after going 5.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on seven hits with one strikeout.

In game two the tables turned as a back and forth affair would go in favor of the Cougars.

USF got on the board first as a ground out to short led to an RBI. The Cougars threatened to score again having a runner on third with two outs but a ground out to Antolak at third would end the inning.

Minnesota Crookston would continue momentum scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. It would start out looking unlikely that much would come from the inning after two quick ground outs but a single from Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill.) would get things going. Just two hits later senior Alexis Khoshaba  (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia) would step up to bat with two on base and hit a gut wrenching homer to get three runs on the board as UMC would take the lead back early. Sioux Falls wouldn't stay down long as they scored two runs off of a single to right field in the bottom of the second to tie the game up.

Minnesota Crookston would be in a position where they could do some real damage as the bases were loaded when Khoshaba stepped up to bat. She would be walked leading to a Garner score. Sioux Falls would be able to have a breath of fresh air as Brooke Timmins (Sr., C, Magnolia, Texas) struck out swinging to end the frame with just one run. The Golden Eagles would have a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the third. Bailey Braatz (Jr., P/DP, Buffalo, Minn.) would have her best inning of the day giving up no hits.

UMC would keep momentum scoring two runs to extend their lead. Bayliss would reach on an error made by the USF infield leading to two runs for Garner and Kristi Larson (Sr., IF, New Ulm, Minn.).

 With the Golden Eagles looking like they were going to run away with the game leading 6-3, the Cougars would have their most productive inning scoring four runs in the fourth. An RBI single would get USF one run closer and a homerun to left field would give them the lead back with a score of 7-4. With two outs, Kuhlow would secure a pop fly to first base to end the inning.

The coming innings would be highly contested as neither team would give an inch. Both teams would show extreme resolve making play after play in an attempt to will their team to victory. After an offensive filled game in the first half, the following three innings would be a defensive battle as both teams gave up a run for the next two innings.

With the lead going into the top of the seventh, USF would look to secure their lead as they scored three runs off of consistent hitting. After a Cougar score, UMC would make a pitching change bringing on Heather Cunningham (So., P, Jacksonville, Fla.) for Braatz. Sioux Falls would go on to score two more runs putting the Golden Eagles down 10-6. Minnesota Crookston could not get anything going as they would get three quick outs ending a hard fought game.

UMC will have another chance to play at home as they play Southwest Minnesota State University at 12 and 2 p.m. Mon., April 18 at UMC Softball Field. SMSU comes into the game with a record of 14-25 overall and 10-12 in the NSIC.