ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program fell in their first two games of the Minot State University Invitational at the Presentation College Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. The Golden Eagles fell 7-1 to Minot State in the first game after giving up three runs in the first and sixth innings. Against, MSU Moorhead, UMC would lead 4-3 going into the sixth inning but the Dragons would get three runs in the bottom of the sixth to upend the Golden Eagles 6-3.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-5 on the year with the two losses.

"We played a little better today but we still have a long way to go if we want to be successful," said Head Coach Don Stopa. "We definitely had a lot better at bats, even though we struggled to score runs."

Mikayla Jones (So., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) got the game one start against Minot State. Jones would have a solid outing overall as she would give up four earned runs over six innings on 10 hits. She finished with six strikeouts. Jones would suffer the loss in the game.

The Beavers would open up the scoring in the game in the bottom of the first. Rachel Burdette would double to drive in Lauren Cowden. In the next at-bat, Tori Zimmerman would blast one over the fence to drive in herself and Burdette to push the score to 3-0.

UMC would struggle early on to get much going with their bats. They would finally get something going in the fourth beginning with a Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) double. Jenna Boardman (Jr., SS, Genoa, Wis.) would be able to drive in Kate Howell (Sr., OF, Badger, Minn.) with a single to cut the lead to 3-1.

 However, Bjorge would be stranded as Minot State got the final out of the inning.

The Beavers extended their lead to 4-1 in their half of the fourth when Ashley Hill singled to drive in Burdette.

UMC would continue to struggle at the plate after that and Minot State would get three security runs in the sixth led by singles from Burdette and Zimmerman, as the Beavers would take the 7-1 victory.

Clarissa Ramirez get the win for the Beavers after giving up just one earned run on five hits with five strikeouts in six innings.

UMC's bats were led by Bjorge, who was 2-of-3 for the game. Boardman would go 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) also pitched on the day and gave up three earned runs on four hits.

In game two of the day, this time against MSU Moorhead, the Golden Eagles gave the start to Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.). She would go 5.1 innings and give up five earned runs on 10 hits in the loss.

The Dragons would take the 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first as Madison Paige hit a home run off of Braatz.

UMC would threaten in the top of the fourth. With two out, Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) doubled to center field to move Bjorge over to third. However, MSU Moorhead would get out of having two base-runners in scoring position as they held the 1-0 advantage.

The Dragons would add to their lead in the bottom of the fourth as Emma Dummer hit a solo shot over the wall to move the lead to 2-0.

UMC would cut into the lead in the top of the fifth. Boardman would lead off the inning with an infield single. Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Garner, Kan.) would move the runner over on a sacrifice bunt. With one out, Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) doubled to left field to drive in Boardman. With two out, Maggie Morales (So., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) would blast a home run to drive in herself and Bayliss to move the score to 3-2. The Dragons would pitch out of the inning, but UMC would do their damage as they held the lead.

MSU Moorhead would knot up the game in the bottom half of the fifth when Lauren Meeker doubled to drive in Carly Williamson to make it 3-3.

The Dragons would come up with a big bottom half of the sixth inning. Becky Volkert would walk to lead off the inning. With one out, Aunica Novacek hit a single to right field to drive in Savannah Tweet, who had reached on a fielder's choice. Williamson would then single to drive in Novacek, which would chase Braatz from the game. MSU Moorhead added another security run when Paige singled up the middle to plate Williamson and make it 6-3.

UMC would get one hit in the top of the seventh on a Gabriel Antolak (Jr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) single, but that would be all as the Dragons would hang on for the 6-3 win.

The win for the Dragons went to Volkert, who pitched 2.1 innings of shutout softball, giving up just tow hits.

UMC looked to Boardman on the game, as she was 2-of-2 with one run scored. Antolak would finish 2-of-4 for the game.

Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) would pitch in relief for the Golden Eagles and go 0.2 innings, giving up no runs and one hit.

Minnesota Crookston will continue play in Aberdeen, S.D., on Fri., Feb. 17 as they take on Black Hills State University at 10 a.m. and MSU Moorhead at 12 p.m.