ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program picked up a sweep Fri., Feb. 17 as they upended Minnesota State University Moorhead 5-3 and Black Hills State University 3-2. The Golden Eagles were led by strong pitching performances from Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) against the Dragons and Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) versus the Yellow Jackets. The games were played as part of the Minot State University Invitational at the Presentation College Dome in Aberdeen, S.D.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 3-5 on the season with Friday's victories. MSU Moorhead dropped to 1-3 on the season after Friday's games. Black Hills State moved to 2-6 with the loss on Friday.

"Today we were a completely different team for yesterday," said Head Coach Don Stopa. "We pitched well, played great defense and had very disciplined at-bats. Yesterday we had some mistakes in the field and some questionable at-bats. The result is two team wins. We still made a couple of mistakes, but this time they didn't hurt us as we picked each other up all day. I am very pleased with the split on the weekend as day two showed who we can be."  

Klaphake got the start in the circle in game one of the day against MSU Moorhead. Klaphake would put forth her best performance of the season as she went 6.2 innings, giving up just three earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts. The save would go to Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.), who faced one batter and got the crucial out.

Minnesota Crookston would start out the scoring on the game as Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) reached on an error at third base, allowing Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF/2B, West Bloomfield, Mich.) to cross the plate. UMC would continue the scoring when Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) hit a ground-rule double to plate Gabriel Antolak (Jr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.). The Dragons would get the final out of the inning as Minnesota Crookston stranded Bjorge on the base path.

The Golden Eagles would add a run in the bottom of the third as Trujillo hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.), who had walked to reach base. The Golden Eagles would lead 3-0 going into the fourth inning.

UMC would add security in the bottom of the fourth. With two on and two out, Antolak hit a single to right field to drive in Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Garner, Kan.) and Hailey Fitzpatrick (Fr., 2B, Becker, Minn.) to push the lead to 5-0.

MSU Moorhead would cut into the lead in the top of the fifth. Madison Paige would double to center field with two out to plate Carly Williamson. Kristina Villalobos would cut the lead to 5-2 as she singled up the middle to drive in Paige. Klaphake would get out of any further threat as the Dragons stranded two on base.

The Dragons would chase Klaphake in the top of the seventh as Lauren Meeker hit a solo shot over the fence to cut the lead to 5-3. UMC would put Cunningham in to get the final out and she did just that as she forced Emma Dummer to fly out to right field.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game one by Antolak, who was 2-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored. Bjorge, would go 2-of-3, while Trujillo was 1-of-2 with two RBI's, Fitzpatrick would go 2-of-3 for the game.

The loss for the Dragons went to Jordan Hall, who gave up three earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts on the game.

Minnesota Crookston gave the ball to Braatz in game two as she continued her strong start to her senior season. Braatz would pitch a complete game, giving up just two earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

UMC would start the scoring in the top of the third. Antolak would single to plate Fitzpatrick to make it 1-0. Morales would then hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the next at-bat to drive in Bayliss.

UMC would add security to their lead in the top of the sixth when Garner singled to drive in pinch-runner Kate Howell (Sr., OF, Badger, Minn.) to make it 3-0.

Black Hills State would have a big bottom of the sixth. Alex Wiley would start the scoring for the Yellow Jackets as she doubled to drive in Lexi Baker. Pamela Sakum added to the total for Black Hills State as she singled to drive in Wiley. Braatz would get a crucial strike out of Lauren Lesni to hold the lead at 3-2 in favor of Minnesota Crookston.

Braatz would mow down the order for Black Hills State in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the win for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Bayliss, who went 2-of-4 with one RBI. Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) would finish the game 2-of-2, while Fitzpatrick was 2-of-3 with one run scored.

The loss for the Yellow Jackets went to Kenya Graube, who gave up three earned runs on nine hits in a complete game. She had six strikeouts for the game.
Minnesota Crookston will next take the field as they face MSU Moorhead for the third time this season Feb. 27 at 1 p.m. at the West St. Paul Dome Invitational in West St. Paul, Minn. They will also play Bemidji State University at 3 p.m. on the same day.