MINOT, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell in a doubleheader to Minot State University Thurs., April 6 at Herb Parker Stadium in Minot, N.D. The Beavers used five runs in the first two innings to pick up an 8-0 win in the first game. In game two, Minot State put together a pair of three run frames in the first inning and the fourth inning to lift them to a 8-1 victory in game two.

Minnesota Crookston fall to 11-18-1 (1-6-1 NSIC) with the pair of losses to Minot State. The Beavers improve to 12-9 (4-4 NSIC) with the victories Thursday.

Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the start in the first game for Minnesota Crookston. Braatz would go three innings and give up two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts as she fell to 8-6 on the season. Braatz would give up five runs in the first two innings of Thursday's game.

Minot State opened up the scoring as Ashley Hill singled up the middle to drive in Lauren Cowden and Jordan Grant to go ahead 2-0.

The Beavers would extend their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the second. A Lauren Cowden sacrifice fly to left center would start the scoring in the frame as she drove in Clarissa Ramirez. Rachel Burdette then laced a single to center field to plate Grant to make it 4-0. The final run of the inning would cross when Hill hit a ground-rule double to plate Burdette.

The Golden Eagles would threaten in the top of the fifth with back-to-back singles from Hailey Fitzpatrick and Jozie Garner (Sr., OF, Eureka, Kan.). The pair would advance a base on a wild pitch to give two runners in scoring position with two outs for pinch-hitter Samantha LeMay (Sr., DP, Belle Plaine, Minn.). Ramirez would come up big in the circle as she struck out LeMay to hold the lead at 5-0 for Minot State.

Minot State added three security runs in the bottom of the sixth as Hill put a stamp on her big game with a three-run home run. The game would conclude after Hill's blast due to the run-rule after five innings as the Beavers won 8-0 over the U of M Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game one by Garner, who went 2-of-2, and Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.), who went 2-of-3 for the game.
The win went to Ramirez, who gave up no runs on seven hits in six innings pitched. She had five strikeouts in the outing.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP/IF, Jordan, Minn.) also appeared in the circle and gave up three earned runs on four hits.

Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) got the game one start for Minnesota Crookston. She would give up seven earned runs on eight hits as she suffered the game two loss.

The Beavers opened up the scoring in game two in the bottom of the first. Burdette would double down the left field line to plate Cowden and Grant. Tori Zimmermann would then single to right center to drive in Burdette to push the lead to 3-0.

Minot State moved their advantage to 4-0 in the bottom of the third with a solo shot over the left field fence by Jordan Branch.

The Beavers added to their advantage in the bottom of the fourth as Cowden singled up the middle to plate Ramirez and Isis Cabral. Burdette would continue the scoring in the inning with a ground-rule double to left field to drive in Grant to put Minot State ahead 7-0.

Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to 7-1 in the top of the sixth when Neumayer doubled to left center to drive in Morgan Duda (So., OF, Clinton Township, Mich.).
The Beavers added a run in the bottom of the sixth when Burdette hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate Cowden, who had tripled in the previous at-bat.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game two by Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) was 2-of-3 from the field. Neumayer would finish 1-of-2 with one RBI, while Sam Rarick (So., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-3.

The win for Minot State went to Jenn Spencer, who gave up no runs on one hit in four innings with six strikeouts. Emma Casey also pitched, giving up one run on three hits in three innings pitched.
The Golden Eagles used two pitchers in relief. Heather Cunningham (Jr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) went 1.2 innings, giving up no runs on one hit with one strikeout. Sammy Knudson (Sr., RHP, Fergus Falls, Minn.) would go one inning, giving up one run on one hit.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action versus Winona State University at 1 and 3 p.m. at UMC Softball Field in Crookston, Minn.