Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team snapped an 18-game losing streak with Friday's split with the University of Sioux Falls. The 5-2 game two victory over the Cougars also tied the school record for wins for Minnesota Crookston softball, originally set in 2004. The Golden Eagles dropped the first game of the doubleheader 9-0 to Sioux Falls.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 12-33-1 (2-21-1 NSIC) with the doubleheader split. Sioux Falls dropped to 27-26 (14-14 NSIC) with Friday's twin-bill split.

The Golden Eagles came from behind in the second game led by a bases loaded walk to Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.), a fielder's choice from Gabriel Antolak (Jr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) and a USF error to score the go-ahead run from Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston kept the pedal to metal in the final innings led by a two RBI single from Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.).

Game One
The U of M Crookston dropped the first game 9-0 to Sioux Falls as Kerrigan Hoshaw and Breanna Black limited the Golden Eagles to just three hits in five innings.

The Cougars had a five-run first inning to open up game one. Jasmine Ragusi singled in Emma Schifferle to make it 1-0. Hoshaw then singled to drive in Sydney Nieveen, followed by a Kenna Heath double to right center to plate Hoshaw and Ragusi. Schifferle rounded out the inning with a single to plate Heath to move the lead to 5-0.

USF added one run in the second when Emily Hove singled to drive in Francesca Mickelson. The Cougars padded their lead with three more runs in fourth frame. Black singled to plate Miranda White to open the scoring in the inning. Ashley Meyer then singled up the middle to drive in Mickelson and Hove singled in Black to round out the scoring and make it 9-0. The Cougars would win 9-0 after the game was called due to run-rule in the fifth inning.

Hoshaw got the win after giving up no runs on two hits in four innings. She had four strikeouts and two walks. Black worked one inning out of the bullpen, giving up just one hit and no runs.

Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) was dealt the loss for the U of M Crookston after giving up six earned runs on eight hits with four walks. Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) came on in relief and allowed three earned runs on four hits in two innings.

Garner, Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) and Jenna Boardman (Jr., IF, Genoa, Wis.) picked up the hits in game one.

Game Two

Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the start as her career enters the final days. The all-time winningest pitcher in school history, had a strong outing, allowing just two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts.

Meyer started the scoring for the Cougars in the first with a single to left center to bring home Nieveen.

Sioux Falls added a run in the bottom of the fourth when Hove doubled to right center to plate Mickelson.

Minnesota Crookston responded with a big bottom of the fifth. The scoring started in the frame when Proctor was walked with the bases loaded to bring in Boardman. With the bases still loaded and starter Courtney Mathews chased from the game, Antolak would reach on a fielder's choice to drive in Garner. A throwing error by the short stop would allow Bayliss to come around, as well, for the go-ahead run putting the U of M Crookston in the lead 3-2.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Minnesota Crookston would threaten again with back-to-back singles from Garner and Bayliss. Rocky Bjorge (Fr., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) came through this time for Minnesota Crookston, clearing the bases with a single as she drove in Garner and Bayliss to move the lead to 5-2. Antolak would come through with a single with two runners still on base, however Bjorge would be thrown out at home to end the inning, but not without U of M Crookston sitting in the driver's seat with a 5-2 advantage.

USF would threaten in the bottom of the sixth with a walk to Mickelson and a single from Heather. However, Braatz would step up for the U of M Crookston with crucial outs to keep the lead intact 5-2.

Braatz showed how she became the school's winningest pitcher in the seventh inning of game two as she allowed just one base runner on a hit by pitch to pick up her ninth win of the season. She would help lead the Golden Eagles to their school-record tying 12^th win of the season.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Bayliss, who was an unblemished 4-of-4 with two RBI's. Garner finished 2-of-4 with two runs scored, while Bjorge came off the bench for two big RBI's. Antolak would go 2-of-4 with one RBI.

The loss for Sioux Falls goes to Matthews, who gave up two earned runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up the 2017 season Sat., April 29 at 1 and 3 p.m. at Southwest Minnesota State University.