TUCSON, Ariz.– The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team picked up a split on day two of the Tucson Invitational at Lincoln Regional Park in Tucson, Ariz. The Golden Eagles used a strong pitching outing from Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) and a 3-for-3 hitting showcase from Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) to pick up a 5-4 win over Dickinson State University. In game two, Minnesota Crookston struggled defensively as they had four errors, losing 11-4 to Mayville State University.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 6-9 with the split. Mayville State is 3-8 on the season. Dickinson State has posted a 5-13 mark on the season.

Braatz continued her strong start to her senior campaign on Monday with the win over Mayville State. She would go 6.0 innings, giving up just two earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout and just one walk. Braatz moves to 4-3 on the year. She has posted a 3.83 ERA in 42.0 innings pitched this season.

Dickinson State would break the scoreless tie in the bottom of the third as McKenzie Kenobbie scored on an error by Gabriel Antolak (Jr., 3B/C, Zimmerman, Minn.) at third base.

The Golden Eagles would get the run back in the top of the fourth as Samantha LeMay (Sr., 1B/DP, Belle Plaine, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to center field to plate pinch-runner Kate Howell (Sr., OF, Badger, Minn.).

Minnesota Crookston would jump on relief pitcher A Brooks of the Blue Hawks in the top of the fifth. The first run would cross as Hailey Fitzpatrick (Fr., IF, Becker, Minn.) reached on an error by the second baseman, allowing Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) to cross the plate. Bjorge would then come through with a clutch swing as she singled to left field to drive in Fitzpatrick and Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF/2B, West Bloomfield, Mich.).

The Golden Eagles added run security in the top of the sixth. Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) would cross the plate on an error by the short stop to extend the lead to 5-1.
The U of M Crookston would look to add more run security in the top of the seventh as Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.) hit a lead-off double to right field and Bjorge hit a single to right center. However, Minnesota Crookston would leave the two players stranded as they remained in the lead 5-1.

Braatz would run into some trouble early in the bottom of the seventh. She would walk Hanna Andrysiak and give up a pinch-hit single to McKayla Sanchez before being pulled in favor of Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.). The Blue Hawks would get a run across when Kenobbie singled to drive in Andrysiak. Mariah Gamboa would then hit an infield single, loading up the bases for Dickinson State.

A sacrifice fly from Rachael Dillon would allow McKenzie Bassett to cross the plate. They would pull within 5-4 as Brianna Grayson reached on an error by Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) at third base, allowing Kenobbie to score. Cunningham would come up big as she got Whitney Mesi to line out to short stop to pick up her second save of the season and preserve the win for the Golden Eagles.

Bjorge would lead Minnesota Crookston, going 3-of-3 with two RBI's. Proctor would go 2-of-4 with one run scored, while Bayliss was 1-of-3 with one run scored.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) would get the start in game two against Mayville State. The freshman would get the loss after going up two earned runs on four hits. She would run into trouble with the defense behind her as four errors would plague the Golden Eagles, causing four unearned runs.

Mayville State would take the early 2-0 advantage. Danielle Sheridan would single through the left side to drive in Daisy Macias to get the scoring started for the Comets. Jolene Ruiz then doubled to left center to plate Sheridan.

Minnesota Crookston would cut the lead to 2-1 in the top of the third as Jenna Boardman (Jr., IF, Genoa, Wis.) crossed the plate on a Bayliss ground out. The U of M Crookston would have two more runners stranded on base in the frame.

The Golden Eagles ran into trouble in the bottom of the third. Macias would lead off the inning with a triple for the Comets. She would cross the plate as Lauren Coronado reached on an error by Antolak at catcher. Sheridan would then single to right field to plate Kiana Ishikawa. Coronado would score later in the inning on an error by Fitzpatrick at short stop.

With the bases loaded, Minnesota Crookston would pull Pitlick in favor of Mikayla Jones (So., RHP, Huxley, Iowa). The Comets would get another run across as Megan Rabe hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Sheridan to make it 5-1.

Minnesota Crookston would bounce back in the top of the fourth as they got two runs. Trujillo would cross the plate on a wild pitch after doubling to left field. With the bases loaded, Fitzpatrick would come through with a clutch single up the middle to drive in Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.). Mayville State would pitch out of any further threat as the Golden Eagles left two runners stranded on base.

The Comets would get to Jones in the bottom of the fourth as they piled on five runs on five hits. They were led by a two RBI double by Ruiz, and a two RBI ground-rule double by Nina Gurgian.
Minnesota Crooskton would cut the lead to 11-4 in the top of the fifth as LeMay walked with the bases loaded, allowing Howell to cross the plate. That would end up being all the scoring for the game as Mayville State would win 11-4.

Haley Kravetz got the win for the Comets after going 7.0 innings and giving up two earned runs on 10 hits with four strikeouts.

Sammy Knudson (Sr., RHP, Fergus Falls, Minn.) had an effective outing for the Golden Eagles. She would go 2.0 innings, giving up no runs on five hits. Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) would get out the one batter she faced.

Fitzpatrick led the U of M Crookston is game two, going 2-of-4 with one RBI. Trujillo would go 2-of-3 with one run scored.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Tues., March 14. The Golden Eagles will take on Huntington University at 3:30 p.m. C.T. They will then face Purdue University Northwest at 5:30 p.m. C.T.