BISMARCK, N.D.  – A Rebekkah Keller walk-off single to drive in Brieann Backes sent University of Mary to an 8-7 extra inning win in game two and a Wednesday sweep of the University of Minnesota Crookston softball team.

The Golden Eagles came back from a 6-2 deficit with four runs in the seventh inning to force extra innings in the second game. Minnesota Crookston would take the lead in the top of the eighth when Gabriel Antolak (Jr., 3B/C, Zimmerman, Minn.) reached on an error, allowing Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) came into score. However, Taylor Lara would single to drive in Kylie Alto and Keller singled to plate Backes to send U-Mary to the 8-7 victory.

In the first game of the day, the Marauders used 15 hits to lift them to a 10-2 victory over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 11-30-1 (1-18-1 NSIC) with the pair of losses. The Golden Eagles were close to picking up their school record tying12^th win but fell just short as they will look to surpass the record with 10 games remaining. U-Mary improved to 16-29 with the pair of wins.

Game One
Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) suffered the game one loss for Minnesota Crookston after giving up five earned runs on six hits in 1.2 innings.
U-Mary got on the scoreboard first when Amber Gamboa singled to drive in Keller to make it 1-0.

Minnesota Crookston evened the score 1-1 in the second when Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) singled to drive in pinch-runner Kate Howell (Jr., OF, Badger, Minn.).

The Marauders broke the tie with four runs in the second to go up 5-1 on the Golden Eagles. U-Mary looked to a two RBI single from Gamboa to drive in Madison Jahner and Stephanie Alvarez to lead the way in the frame.

The Marauders added a run in the fifth as Gamboa singled to plate Hannah Holtz.

Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to 7-2 in the sixth as Antolak powered her fourth home run of the season.

The Marauders put a stamp on their lead with three runs in the sixth to make it 10-2. Alvarez, Keegan Wickman and Keller all had RBI singles in the inning.
Minnesota Crookston picked up hits from Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.), Antolak, Neumayer and Jenna Boardman (Jr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.).

Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) has also pitched for Minnesota Crookston, giving up five earned runs on nine hits with 3.1 innings pitched.

Backes earned the win after giving up two earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts.

Game Two
U-Mary started the scoring of game two in the first when Mendez had a two RBI single, driving in Holtz and Keller. Alto added to the lead later in the inning with a three-run blast to push the lead to 5-0.

Minnesota Crookston picked up two runs in the fifth. Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) had a sacrifice fly to drive in Neumayer. Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) would reach on an error by the short stop later in the inning to plate Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.).

The Golden Eagles had a big inning in the seventh as they plated four runs. Minnesota Crookston was led by a sacrifice fly by Morales to plate Garner.

Antolak added a two RBI single later in the frame, to plate Proctor and Bayliss. The game-tying run would cross when Antolak scored after Trujillo reached on an error by the right fielder as Minnesota Crookston forced extra innings.

Minnesota Crookston took the 8-7 lead in the top of the eighth when Bayliss scored after Antolak reached on an error by the short stop.

The Marauders would bounce right back with two runs in the bottom of the eighth to take the win led by Keller's walk-off single to drive in Backes.

Sammy Knudson (Sr., RHP, Fergus Falls, Minn.) suffered the loss in relief as she gave up two unearned runs on five hits with two strikeouts.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) started the game for the U of M Crookston. She gave up six earned runs on seven hits.

Jahner picked up the win in relief after giving up no earned runs on one hit in 1.2 innings of work.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Bayliss, who was 2-of-5 with two runs scored. Neumayer was 2-of-4 with one run scored, while Garner was 1-of-3 with two runs scored.

The Golden Eagles will return to action Sat., April 22 at 1 and 3 p.m. against Augustana University.