CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston dropped a doubleheader with University of Minnesota Duluth Wed., April 12 at UMC Softball Field in Crookston, Minn.

The Golden Eagles would put the pressure on UMD in the second game of the day led by two home runs from Gabriel Antolak (Jr., 3B/C, Zimmerman, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston would pull within 10-6 in the bottom of the fifth. However, Minnesota Duluth padded their victory with five runs in the seventh to pick up the 15-6 win.

In game one of the day, Minnesota Crookston struggled at the plate as they were no-hit by Valerie Hohol, who was a walk away from a perfect game for the Bulldogs.

Minnesota Crookston fell to 11-24-1 (1-11-1 NSIC) with the losses. UMD improved to 28-10 (17-8 NSIC) with the doubleheader sweep.

Game One
Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the game one start for the Golden Eagles. She would give up eight earned runs on eight hits with three walks in 2.2 innings pitched. Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) would pitch 2.1 innings of strong relief for Minnesota Crookston. She gave up just one run on three hits with three strikeouts.

Hohol improved to 11-1 for Minnesota Duluth with the no-hit shutout with just one walks and eight strikeouts in five innings on the mound.

The Bulldogs opened up the scoring with three runs in the first. Becky Smith singled to center field to drive in Hannah Schmoll. Natalie Wright would then cross the plate on a delayed double steal. The third run of the frame came across on a Kalynn Tilton sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Smith.

The Bulldogs would extend the lead to 4-0 on a Jayme Langbehn solo home run in the second.

They would pad their advantage with five more runs in the third led by a two-run home run from Langbehn and a two-run double from Smith.

Game Two
Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the game two start. She would give up five earned runs on four hits with five walks and one strikeout.

Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) pitched strong in relief as she gave up just one earned run on six hits in 5.1 innings with one strikeout and one walk.

The Bulldogs got the scoring started in the first as Scholl crossed the plate on a throw to catch Wright stealing. UMD extended the lead to 2-0 on a Lauren Oberle solo home run.

Minnesota Duluth added seven runs in the second frame. Smith singled to center field to plate Schmoll and Langbehn. Sadler would then reach on an error at second base to allow Smith to score. Tilton would extend the lead to 9-0 on a three-run home run over the center field fence.

The Golden Eagles would cut into the lead in the second inning. Antolak hit her first home run of the day on a three-run rocket to center field to plate Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) and Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) to put the deficit at 9-3.

Minnesota Crookston added two runs in the third. Antolak continued her strong game with a single to left field to plate Pitlick. Morgan Duda (So., OF, Clinton Township, Mich.) then came through with a single to left field to drive in pinch-runner Kate Howell (Jr., OF, Badger, Minn.).

The Bulldogs pushed across a run in the fifth with a Hannah Bloch sacrifice fly to drive in Tilton.

Antolak launched another home run over the fence in the fifth inning to cut the lead to 10-6 for Minnesota Duluth.

However, the Bulldogs would come through with a big seventh inning to secure the victory with a pair of two-RBI doubles from Wright and Smith and a Tilton solo home run.

The U of M Crookston looked to Antolak, who was 2-of-3 with five RBI's and two runs scored. Trujillo would go 1-of-3 with one run scored, while Duda was 1-of-3 with one RBI.

The win for Minnesota Duluth went to Breanne Swint, who came on in relief. Swint gave up just on earned run on two hits with five strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Fri., April 14 against Minnesota State University-Mankato and Sat., April 15 against Concordia University, St. Paul. Both games have been site relocated to Crookston, Minn. due to inclement weather in Southern Minnesota. Friday's games will commence at 1 p.m., while Saturday's games will start at 12 p.m.