CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team lost a pair of games Sun., April 9 against Upper Iowa University. The Golden Eagles fell 4-2 in game one and 7-2 in game two to the Peacocks at UMC Softball Field in Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh in game one as they cut the lead to 4-2 and had two runners on and the game-winning run at the plate when Erin Drahozal got a line out to secure the 4-2 victory in game one.

In the second game, the Peacocks got out to an early 5-0 advantage after the first two innings and used it to catapult them to a 7-2 victory over Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles fall to 11-22-1 (1-10-1 NSIC) with the doubleheader loss. Upper Iowa improves to 11-23 (3-9 NSIC) with the pair of wins. Minnesota Crookston is just one win away from tying their school record of 12 wins set during the 2004 season. Their 11 wins has already matched their win total from the 2016 season.

Game One
Bailey Braatz (Sr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) got the ball in game one for Minnesota Crookston. She would pitch the complete game, giving up just three earned runs on eight hits with two strikeouts Braatz would put her team in a position to win but unfortunately suffered the loss to fall to 8-8 on the season.

Upper Iowa got on the board first in game one when Shannon Nix hit a solo home run to make it 1-0.

The Peacocks added a run in the third when Sammy Garrett hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Julia Buffington.

Minnesota Crookston would make a dent in the lead as Maggie Morales (So., OF/1B, Tucson, Ariz.) hit her second home run of the season. Her solo shot would cut the lead to 2-1.

Upper Iowa added a run in the top of the fifth when Garrett singled to plate Sami Kay Shafranski.

The Peacocks would pad their lead in the seventh when Riley Kruel singled to drive in Buffington to make it 4-1.

Minnesota Crookston put up a late charge in the bottom of the seventh. Morales opened up the inning with a double. She would be pinch run for with Kate Howell (Jr., OF, Badger, Minn.), who would come around to score on a Gabby Antolak (Jr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) ground out. A Khailyn Neumayer (Jr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) single would give the U of M Crookston two on with one out. However, Upper Iowa would secure the final two outs of the game to preserve the 4-2 win.

The win went to Drahozal, who would give up two earned runs on four hits in seven innings in the circle.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Morales, who was 2-of-3 with one RBI and run scored. Samantha Proctor (Fr., C, Champlin, Minn.) went 1-of-2, while Neumayer was 1-of-3 for the game.

Game Two
Kassidy Klaphake (Jr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) started game two in the circle for Minnesota Crookston. Klaphake would pitch five innings and give up five earned runs on nine hits.

Upper Iowa opened up the game with two runs in the top of the first. Kruel would score on a Garrett ground out to make it 1-0. Shafranski would cross the plate as Ali Green reached on a fielder's choice to extend the lead to 2-0.

The Peacocks pushed their lead out to 5-0 after a productive second inning. Buffington hit a two-run home run to drive in Katie Sammons. Garrett would round out the inning with a single to plate Shafranski.

Upper Iowa moved their advantage to 6-0 when Kruel singled to plate Sammons.

Minnesota Crookston put together a threat in the bottom of the sixth with back-to-back walks dealt to Neumayer and Jennna Boardman (Jr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.). With one out, Sam Rarick (So., UT, East Grand Forks, Minn.) singled to drive in Neumayer to cut the lead to 6-1. In the next at-bat, Victoria Bayliss (Jr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Boardman.

Upper Iowa extended their advantage to 7-2 when Jordyn Brennan doubled to drive in Jenny Budds. The Peacocks would hold on to win 7-2 to take the Sunday sweep.

Courtney Clayberg picked up the win for Upper Iowa after giving up two earned runs on four hits in seven innings with five strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Rarick, who was 1-of-1 with one RBI. Maycee Trujillo (So., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) finished 1-of-3 for the day, as did Antolak.

Paige Pitlick (Fr., RHP/1B, Jordan, Minn.) also pitched, giving up one earned run on four hits in two strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston will take on University of Minnesota Duluth Wed., April 12 at 2 and 4 p.m. at UMC Softball Field.