ABERDEEN, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team concluded the 2016 campaign with a split against Northern State University. UMC dropped the first game 5-1 but bounced back to take the second game 2-0. Minnesota Crookston finishes the season with an 11-39 mark overall and 5-25 in conference play. UMC improved on a four win season the previous year. Northern State ends their season with a 24-30 record overall and a 14-16 conference record. The Golden Eagles fall just one game short of tying their all-time wins mark of 12, but they have made sizable strides as a program in 2016.

In game one of the double header Northern state was able to jump on the Golden Eagles early started by a five run first inning from the Wolves. NSU was able to connect on five hits en route to the five runs. Macey Engel (Sr., C/IF, Papillion, Ned.) got things going with single to center field that drove home Rachel Albright (Jr., OF/P, Pasadena, Calif.) who was on third. Katie Dawson (So., IF, Henderson, Nev.) would hit a double to left field bringing home two runners to put the score at 3-0. Katelynn Ditts (Jr., IF, Sidney, British Columbia) would then score on a single for the fourth score of the inning. Jamie Fisher (Fr., P/IF, Omaha, Neb.) would score the final run off of the only error of the game for Minnesota Crookston. The Wolves would still have two left on base when UMC secured a ground out to third base.

The Golden Eagles would struggle to find any offense as they would not get a hit until the fourth inning. After a strong first inning, NSU would also struggle to find offense. Mikayla Jones (Fr., P/IF, Huxley, Iowa) would bounce back from her first inning performance by only allowing four hits for the remainder of the game.

The score would remain scoreless until the seventh inning when Minnesota Crookston attempted to stage a comeback. Allison Foley (Sr., SS, Lockport, Ill.) would start off the inning with a double to left center field. Alexis Khoshaba (Sr., OF, Richmond, British Columbia) would get onto base with a single allowing for Foley to score for the first run of the game for UMC. Minnesota Crookston would leave two on base when Kristi Larson (Sr., IF, New Ulm, Minn.) grounded out to shortstop. The Golden Eagles would drop game one 5-1.
 
In game two, the Golden Eagles would be led on the mound by Bailey Braatz (Jr., P/DP, Buffalo, Minn.) as she pitched seven inning only giving up four hits to pick up her fifth win of the season, which led the team.

The Golden Eagles would start their seven seniors in the game and all seven would play the entire game.

Both teams would remain scoreless for the first three innings until Minnesota Crookston to control in the fourth. Brooke Timmins (Sr., C, Magnolia, Texas) would start off the inning with a single down the left field line. Larson would advance Timmins to second off of a single to left field. Ashley Hoyle (Sr., 2B, Blaine, Minn) would take the strategic move and hit a sacrifice bunt and find herself out at first. Larson advanced to second and Timmins advanced to third on the play. Jordyn Derflinger (Sr., P/OF, Henderson, Nev.) would reach on an error by an NSU third baseman and would reach second on the throw. Larson would score for the second run of the inning. Foley would then pop out to the short stop for the third out of the inning with two left on. The Golden Eagles leave the inning with a 2-0 lead.

UMC would play well as they protect the lead only giving up one hit for the remaining innings. NSU would also hold UMC scoreless ending the game with a score of 2-0.

UMC concludes the season on a high note with the split but seven seniors took the field for the last time in a Golden Eagle uniform.

Allison Foley concludes her senior campaign with a batting average of .329. Foley has started all 48 games at short stop for the Golden Eagles. Foley hit four home runs on the season which ties for second on the team. Foley leads her team in double with 10. Jordyn Derflinger is a transfer from Iowa Lakes Community College. Deflinger appeared in 21 of 48 games and started in three. Jordyn had her best game at the mound against Bemidji State only giving up seven hits. Kaylin Beatty (Sr., OF, Andover, Minn.) has been playing in a Golden Eagle uniform for four years. Beatty played in 28 games starting in 19. Beatty has five runs on the season and three RBI. Kaylin also has a fielding percentage of .909. Ashley Hoyle played in seven games starting in one. Hoyle has been at UMC for all for years but has played softball for only three. Hoyle had her best game against St. Joseph's when she had one hit and one run in a winning effort. Brooke Timmins is another senior that has been in a UMC uniform for all four years. Timmins finishes the season with a batting average of .318 with 21 hits on the season. Alexis Khoshaba has also been in a UMC uniform all for years of her college career. Khoshaba ends the season hitting .348 on the season. Alexis finished the season with a team best seven home runs. Khoshaba appeared in 47 games starting in 46. Kristi Larson is a two year Golden Eagle player. She has appeared in 41 games starting in 37. Larson has 20 hits on the season with a walk off home run. Larson also has a fielding percentage of .965. Congratulations to all of the seniors and good luck in your future endeavors.