TUCSON, Ariz. – A strong outing from Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) and two RBI's from Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) would lift the University of Minnesota Crookston softball team to a split on the day Fri., March 17 at Lincoln Regional Park in Tucson, Ariz.

The Golden Eagles upended Valley City State University 6-4 for their first win in three tries over the Vikings led by Braatz, who went a complete game, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts. Braatz moves to 7-3 with the win. She has posted a 4-1 mark in Tucson with a 3.60 ERA.  Bjorge would lead the team at the plate, going 2-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored. Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF/2B, West Bloomfield, Mich.) would go 2-of-3 with one RBI and one run scored. Hailey Fitzpatrick (Fr., 2B/SS, Becker, Minn.) would go 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored, while Jenna Boardman (Jr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) went 2-of-3 with two runs scored.

In game two, Minnesota Crookston went down 4-0 early. They would make up ground in the fifth inning with two runs as they cut it to 4-2. However, Midland University used four runs in the sixth to cement their win over the Golden Eagles. Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) suffered the loss after a solid outing, going four innings with four earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston moved to a 9-12 mark with the split as they move to 5-5 in the Tucson Invitational. The Golden Eagles are just three wins shy of their all-time wins mark of 12 and just two wins shy of their best under Head Coach Don Stopa, which was 11 last season. Valley City State improved to 11-14 on the year with the victory. Midland moved to 8-6 on the season.
The U of M Crookston would finally open up the scoring in the fourth inning of the early pitcher's dual between Braatz and Haley Butterfield. The Golden Eagles had chances in the early innings but would leave five runners on base. In the fourth, Bayliss would walk with the bases loaded to drive in Boardman. Bjorge then hit a hard line drive to the pitcher to drive in Fitzpatrick and pinch-runner Kate Howell (Sr., OF, Badger, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston would leave two more runners on base, despite taking the 3-0 lead.

Valley City State cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Morgan Nalley would double to right center to plate Cassie Pautz. Emily Smith then hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Kelli More.
Minnesota Crookston would chase Butterfield from the game in the top of the fifth as she walked Boardman and Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) with one out. The Vikings would bring on Kathleen Gallais. Gallais would throw a wild pitch and walk Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) to quickly get replaced by Valley City State ace Nalley.

Nalley would get Samantha LeMay (Sr., DP, Belle Plaine, Minn.) to strikeout. However, Fitzpatrick would finally come through with a single through the left side to drive in Boardman to push the lead to 4-2. Pinch-runner Lexie Santoyo (So., OF, Kansas City, Mo.) would try to add to the lead on the same play but would be thrown out at home.

The Vikings would even up the slate 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Pautz would ground out to drive in Gallais. Moore then singled to left field to drive in Kelsey Hamade.

Minnesota Crookston would break the tie in the top of the sixth. With two runners in scoring position after a Bayliss single and a Bjorge double, Maggie Morales (So., OF, Tucson, Ariz.) would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Bayliss. Bjorge would score off a Nalley wild pitch to push the lead to 6-4.

The Golden Eagles would hang on for the 6-4 win. Nalley would suffer the loss for Valley City State after giving up two earned runs on four hits with three strikeouts.

In game two, the Midland Warriors would open the scoring in the bottom of the first with a two-run home run from Bailey Hartman to drive in herself and Katie Heard.

The Warriors added to the lead in the third when Angela Brazil hit an RBI single to left field to drive in Heard. Tammie Yoshimori would continue the scoring in the frame as she singled to center field to plate Hartman to make it 4-0.

Minnesota Crookston would threaten in the fourth with singles from Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) and LeMay, but would be unable to get a run across.

Midland would also threaten in the fourth with the bases loaded and two out but Klaphake would come through with a big strikeout of Hartman to keep the game at 4-0.

Minnesota Crookston would respond in the fifth as Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) and Fitzpatrick reached base to open the frame. Garner would score on a Bayliss ground out. Bjorge would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Fitzpatrick. The Golden Eagles would be held at 4-2 at the end of the inning.

Midland would secure their win with four runs in the bottom of the sixth to make it 8-2. The Warriors were led by a Skyler Peterson infield single to drive in Brazil and Bailey Hoover. Midland would hang on to win by the 8-2 tally.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) would pitch in relief for the Golden Eagles. She would give up four earned runs on seven hits in two innings.

Peterson would get the win for the Warriors after giving up just two earned runs on six hits with six strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Bayliss, who was 1-of-3 with one RBI. Garner would go 1-of-3 with one run scored.

The U of M Crookston will wrap up their Tucson trip with another game against Midland University Sat., March 18 at 11 a.m. C.T.