CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team lost a pair of games to No. 14 Minnesota State University-Manakto Fri., April 14 at UMC Softball Field in Crookston, Minn.
The Golden Eagles got a home run from
Gabriel Antolak (Jr., 3B/C, Zimmerman, Minn.), her third in the last three days for Minnesota Crookston, but they would fall 12-1 in game one to the Mavericks. In game two, Libby Bemis picked up a three-hit shutout in a 9-0 win over the Golden Eagles.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 11-26 (1-14-1 NSIC) with the doubleheader loss. Minnesota State is in second in the NSIC standings as they improved to 36-6 (14-2 NSIC) with the pair of victories.
Game One
Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the game one start for Minnesota Crookston. Pitlick would struggle in the circle as she gave up nine earned runs on eight hits in 1.2 innings pitched for the Golden Eagles.
Coley Ries, an All-American last season for the Mavericks, gave up no runs on one hit in three innings pitched. Caitlin Stone would pitch in relief and give up one earned run on one hit in two innings pitched.
The Mavericks started the first game with three runs in the first inning. Jess Meidl would score on a passed ball to put Minnesota State up 1-0. A Samantha Buhmann single would plate Amber Kral and Ashley Thell.
Minnesota State would have a big second inning as they tallied six runs. Cori Kennedy opened the scoring in the frame with a double to drive in Carly Esselman. McKenzie Paap doubled to drive in Cori Kennedy. Paap would later score on a Thell ground out to make it 6-0. A Kral double would drive in Meidl to plate 7-0. An Esselman walk with the bases loaded would plate Kral to move the Minnesota State advantage to 8-0. The final run crossed as Buhmann scored on a wild pitch.
The Mavericks would cement their win with three in the third inning. Meidl singled to drive in Paap. Kennedy Rieck singled to plate Kral and Thell to extend the advantage to 12-0.
The Golden Eagles got one run in the fourth as Antolak powered her third home run in the last three days over the fence to cut the lead to 12-1. However, it would not be enough as Minnesota State picked up the 12-1 win.
Minnesota Crookston was led by
Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.) was 1-of-2 for the game, while Antolak was 1-of-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
Sammy Knudson (Sr., RHP, Fergus Falls, Minn.) also pitched for Minnesota Crookston. She would give up just three earned runs on five hits in 2.1 innings pitched.
Game Two
Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the game two start. She would give up five earned runs on six hits with one strikeout and four walks in 1.2 innings pitched. Braatz falls to 8-10 on the season.
The Golden Eagles would get just three hits on the game from Garner,
Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) and
Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.).
Minnesota State opened the first inning with four runs. Paap would score on an error by the left fielder after stealing third. A Buhmann single then drove in Thell to extend the lead to 2-0. The Mavericks rounded out the scoring with a single by Kennedy to plate Buhmann and Kral to push the advantage to 4-0.
The Mavericks added five runs in the second frame. A Thell single opened up the inning's scoring to drive in Meidl. Dana Mogren would triple later in the inning to drive in Kral and Thell to push the lead to 7-0. Esselman continued the scoring with a single to plate Mogren, while Alyssa Rickels rounded out the scoring on the day with a single to plate Esselman to make it 9-0.
Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) continued her strong relief pitching of late. She shut out Minnesota State in 2.1 innings on the circle with just two hits allowed.
Minnesota Crookston will return to action Sat., April 15 against Concordia University, St. Paul at 12 and 2 p.m.
