MINOT, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team picked up a decisive 10-1 win over Minnesota State University Moorhead Sat., Feb. 17 as they opened the Minot State University Invitational at the Minot State Air-Supported Dome in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles put together a four-run fourth inning and a five run seventh to propel them to the win over the Dragons.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 2-3 with Saturday's win. MSU Moorhead starts the season with an 0-1 mark. Saturday's game was a non-conference tilt against NSIC foes.

Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tuscon, Ariz.) picked up her first career win for the Golden Eagles as she had a strong performance in the circle. Silvain went 5.1 innings, giving up just one unearned run on four hits with one strikeout. Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) came on and pitched well in relief, giving up no runs on one hit with two strikeouts in 1.2 innings.

Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) led the team at the plate as she was 2-of-3 with four crucial RBIs and two runs scored. Morales had two RBI doubles on the morning. Maycee Trujillo (Jr., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) went 4-of-5 with one run scored and one RBI, while Jenna Boardman (Sr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) was 2-of-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Haley Strachan (Jr., OF, Phoenix, Ariz.) finished 2-of-4 with two runs scored.

Tori White suffered the loss for the Dragons as she gave up five runs on six hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Payton Gaber also pitched, giving up five runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings in the circle.

MSU Moorhead looked to Elizabeth Johnson, who was 2-of-3 with one RBI. Aunica Novacek was 1-of-3, as were Madison Paige and Lexie Kennedy.
The Golden Eagles opened the scoring in the top of the second when Silvain rached on an error by the short stop, allowing Gabriel Antolak (Sr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) to come into score.

MSU Moorhead evened the slate in the bottom of the third as Johnson doubled to right center to drive in Megan Asham to knot it up 1-1.
Minnesota Crookston got their bats going in the top of the fourth. With two on, Morales came up in the clutch with a double to left field to plate Strachan and Silvain and put the Golden Eagles on top 3-1. Boardman then came up with a double of her own to drive in Morales to make it 4-1. Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) made it three doubles in a row as she drove in Boardman to make it 5-1. Gaber was able to pitch out of any further damage.

Neither team did much until the Minnesota Crookston bats got going again in the top of the seventh. With the bases loaded, Morales came through again with a double down the right field line to drive in Trujillo and Khailyn Neumayer (Sr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.). Boardman then came through with a single to plate Strachan to move the lead to 8-1. With two outs, Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) put down a squeeze bunt to bring in Strachan to make it 9-1. With the bases loaded again, Trujillo singled through the left side to drive in Boardman.

MSU Moorhead opened off the bottom of the seventh with a double from Kennedy, but Jones would get three straight outs to get out of trouble and preserve the 10-1 win.

Minnesota Crookston will play a pair of exhibitions in their next two games. The Golden Eagles will take on Dawson Community College at 12 p.m. Sat., Feb. 17 and Sun., Feb. 18 at 8 a.m.