TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball program opened the Tucson Invitational Sun., March 12 with a split at Lincoln Regional Park in Tucson, Ariz. The Golden Eagles dropped the opening game 5-3 to Central College, who used three runs in the bottom of the fifth to upend Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles bounced back in game two as a Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) no-hit shutout and a two-run home run from Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) lifted U of M Crookston to a 9-0 run-rule victory over Dickinson College.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 5-8 on the season with Sunday's victories. Central sits at 3-1 on the season. Dickinson has a 1-2 mark on the season.

Sunday's games marked the first outdoor games the Golden Eagles have played all season. Minnesota Crookston opened the season with 11 dome games in Aberdeen, S.D. and West St. Paul, Minn.

Klaphake's gem would be her first no-hitter of her Minnesota Crookston career. The junior would allow no runs on no hits with two walks, three hit batters and seven strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles opened up the scoring in a big way against Dickinson as Proctor crushed the ball to center field to drive in herself and pinch-runner Kate Howell (Sr., OF, Badger, Minn.) to put U of M Crookston in the driver's seat 2-0.

Minnesota Crookston continued the big inning in the fourth when Hailey Fitzpatrick (Fr., IF, Becker, Minn.) singled through the right side to plate Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.).

The Golden Eagles would rough up Dickinson pitcher Killian Kueny in the top of the fifth as they plated six runs in the frame. Kueny would deal walks to two of the first three batters in the frame as Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.) and Proctor got free passes.

Neumayer would single to left field to start the scoring in the inning, driving home Morales. Sam Rarick (So., UT, East Grand Forks, Minn.) would then be hit by a pitch as U of M Crookston would load up the bases. Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) would come through in the big situation with a single to center field to plate Proctor.

With the bases still loaded, Fitzpatrick would come up and single up the middle to drive home Neumayer. The bases would still be juiced when Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) reached on a fielder's choice, but the second base would not commit to a throw, allowing all runners to advance with Rarick crossing home plate. Gabby Antolak (Jr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) would round out the scoring with a clutch single to left center to plate Fitzpatrick and Garner to make it 9-0.

With the run-rule in reach, Klaphake would preserve her no-hitter and the win as she struck out two and allowed just one runner to reach on a hit by pitch. Klaphake moves to 2-2 with the victory.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game two by LeMay, who was 2-of-3. Fitzpatrick would go 2-of-3 with one run scored and two RBI's. Garner would finish 2-of-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Neumayer would go 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Proctor was 1-of-2 with two RBI's and two runs scored.

In the first game of the day, Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) would get the start. Braatz would suffer the loss after giving up four earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

Central opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first as Sara Tallman scored on a fielder's choice after Amanda Sigulas was caught stealing at second.

Minnesota Crookston would even up the tally in the top of the second when Morgan Duda (So., OF, Clinton Township, Mich.) singled to center field to drive in Morales, who had reached on an error at third base.

The Dutch would move their lead to 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth as Paige Dickel put down the safety squeeze bunt to drive in Tabitha Taylor. Dickel would reach on the bunt.

Central would get to Braatz in the bottom of the fifth as they tallied three runs. Tallman would start things with an infield single. She would come across the plate on a Emily Wilson single. Taylor would then single to right field to drive home Sigulas and make it 4-1. Central would extend the lead to 5-1 as Wilson scored on an error by Antolak at catcher as she was trying to throw out a runner at second.

Minnesota Crookston would threaten in the top of the seventh.Neumayer started things off with a pinch-hit single to right field. LeMay then came up in a big spot and blasted one over the left field fence to drive in herself and Jenna Boardman (Jr., SS, Genoa, Wis.) to cut the lead to 5-3. However, Central would get the final two outs of the game to preserve the 5-3 win.

The Golden Eagles were led by LeMay, who was 1-of-1 with two RBI's and one run scored. Bayliss would hit 1-of-4, as did Antolak. Duda would go 1-of-3 with one RBI.

The win went to Mariah Fritz, who pitched five innings and gave up no earned runs on three hits. Annie DeVries picked up the save as she held Minnesota Crookston at 5-3 despite a big LeMay home run. DeVries gave up two earned runs on two hits.

Mikayla Jones (So., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) would also pitch for U of M Crookston. She would go 1.0 inning, giving up no runs and no hits with two strikeouts.


The Golden Eagles will continue play at the Tucson Invitational at 5:30 p.m. C.T. against Dickinson State University. They will then take on Red River Valley foe Mayville State University at 8 p.m. C.T. Both games will be at Lincoln Regional Park in Tucson, Ariz.