TUCSON, Ariz. – Bailey Braatz had a perfect game going through five-and-a-third innings and would finish with a one-hit shutout as the University of Minnesota Crookston softball team won 8-0 over Midland University. The game was perhaps the best of the season for the Golden Eagles with 13 hits, Braatz's near-perfect game and great defensive plays in the outfield by Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) and Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.).

Minnesota Crookston moves to 10-12 on the season as they are just one win away from their wins total of 11 of last season. They are just two wins away from tying the program-best wins mark of 12 set during the 2004 season. The Golden Eagles finish the Tucson Invitational with a 6-5 mark.

Braatz would go six innings, giving up just the one hit in her shutout with five strikeouts. Braatz finishes the Tucson Invitational with a 5-1 mark. She is 8-3 on the season with a 3.03 ERA as she has a great start to the season.

The Golden Eagles were led at the plate by Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.), who was 3-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Bayliss would have a good day at the plate and in the field. She would go 3-of-4 with two runs scored. Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.) went 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Lexie Santoyo (So., OF, Kansas City, Mo.) was 2-of-3 with two RBI's.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring with a five-run first inning. Hailey Fitzpatrick (Fr., 2B/SS, Becker, Minn.) led off the frame by reaching on an error at third base. Fitzpatrick would come home along with Bayliss on a Gabriel Antolak (Jr., 3B/C, Zimmerman, Minn.) ground-rule double. Proctor would then come through with a single up the middle to score Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.). Antolak would make it 4-0 as she crossed the plate on a Santoyo single.

 Santoyo's hit would chase starting pitcher Renee Ramirez. The Warriors would bring on Skyler Peterson, who got the win over the Golden Eagles Friday. The U of M Crookston would add a fifth run as Jenna Boardman (Jr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) singled to drive in Proctor.

Braatz would mow down Midland one-by-one as the Golden Eagles held the 5-0 lead. The biggest threat would come on a Brooke Hoover well hit ball that could have been a double to deep center. However, Garner made a leaping grab and was able to hold the ball in her glove as she kept  Braatz's perfect game intact.

The Golden Eagles made it 6-0 as Morales doubled to left center to plate Bayliss, who had tripled to left field.

Minnesota Crookston would move the lead to 7-0 in the top of the fifth as Santoyo singled to drive in Proctor, who had reached on a triple to center field.

Bayliss would make the play on a line out to deep right field in the bottom of the fifth to still preserve Braatz' no-hitter and the 7-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles moved to lead to 8-0 in the top of the sixth when Fitzpatrick scored on an error by the catcher after Bayliss stole second.

Braatz would look to keep her perfect game heading to the bottom of the sixth. She would get a fly out in the first at-bat. However, Madie Nelson used a single to shallow center to end the perfect game. However, Braatz was unfazed as she struck out the next batter and got the final out to get the win and the shutout of the Warriors as Minnesota Crookston run-ruled Midland.

The loss went to Ramirez for the Warriors. Ramirez gave up three earned runs on four hits in 0.1 innings. Peterson would give up two earned runs on eight hits in 4.2 innings. Baylee Conley also pitched, giving up no runs on one hit in one inning.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action as they are slated to open conference March 28 versus Bemidji State University at UMC Softball Field. Their games against Jamestown have tentatively been moved to March 29 in Jamestown, N.D. due to scheduling conflicts for the Jimmies.