MINOT, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team earned a split Sun., Feb. 25 with a 5-2 loss to Minot State University and a 13-5 win over Carroll College. The doubleheader was played at the Air-Supported Dome in Minot, N.D.

Minnesota Crookston moved their season record to 3-7 with Sunday's split. The Golden Eagles finish their six non-conference games in Minot, N.D. with a 2-4 mark. Minnesota Crookston also earned two exhibition wins in Minot, N.D. last weekend over Dawson Community College. Minot State moved their record to 12-4 on the season. Carroll has a 7-5 mark on the 2018 season. Their only loss in Minot this weekend came Sunday to the Golden Eagles.

Game One vs. Minot State
Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the ball in game one against Minot State. Pitlick pitched well early but ran into trouble in the sixth inning. She allowed four earned runs on six hits in 5.2 innings in the circle with two strikeouts. Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) came on in relief and gave up no runs on no hits in 0.1 innings of action.

The win for Minot State was picked up by Kylie Patrick in relief. She moved to 8-1 on the season after giving up no earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in five innings. Laura Mendez got the start and allowed one earned run on four hits in two innings.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game one by Taylor Allen (Fr., C/OF, Neepawa, Manitoba), who was 2-of-4 with two runs scored. Gabriel Antolak (Sr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) went 2-of-4 with one RBI, while Jenna Boardman (Sr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) was 2-of-4.

The Beavers were guided by Kyla Larson, who was 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Ashley Hill finished 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Tori Zimmermann was 1-of-3 with one run scored and one RBI.

Minnesota Crookston threatened out of the gate as Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) walked and Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) singled with one out. The pair moved to scoring position on a wild pitch. However, a fielder's choice and a strikeout got the Beavers out of the frame.
Minot State took a lead in the bottom of the first when Hill doubled in Zimmermann to put the Beavers up 1-0.

The Golden Eagles evened up the tally 1-1 in the top of the second when Antolak hit an infield single to plate Allen.

The Beavers extended their lead in the bottom of the third as Zimmermann doubled to right center to drive in Skyla Neubauer to go up 2-1.

Minnesota Crookston knotted the game up 2-2 when Antolak reached on an error in center field to allow Allen to score. The Golden Eagles left the bases loaded as Minot State got three-straight outs to get out of the inning with the tie.

The Beavers took the lead back 3-2 in their half of the fourth after Larson tripled and scored on a wild pitch.

Minot State added security runs in the bottom of the sixth. Larson singled through the right side to bring Alaina Marshall to the dish. Camille Greene then doubled to right center to drive in Larson.

Minnesota Crookston put together back-to-back singles from Allen and Boardman with two outs in the top of the seventh. However, Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) struck out looking as the Beavers would hang on for the 5-2 win.

Game Two vs. Carroll
Minnesota Crookston had a big game at the plate against Carroll. The Golden Eagles scored 13 runs on 16 hits including four runs in the second and five runs in the fourth.

The Golden Eagles were ignited by Antolak, who was 2-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Boardman went 3-of-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Maycee Trujillo (Jr., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) finished 3-of-3 with two runs scored. Rodriguez was 2-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Allen was 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored.

Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) got her second win of the season after giving up five earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout in four innings. Klaphake worked in relief, giving up no runs on no hits in one inning of work.

The loss for Carroll went to Brooke Brown, who struggled after giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits in three innings.

The Fighting Saints were led at the plate by Kendall Mooney, who was 1-of-3 with three RBIs and one run scored. Allison Bayer finished 2-of-3 with two runs scored, while Anna ApRoberts was 2-of-3 with one run scored.

Minnesota Crookston took an early 1-0 lead as Antolak led off the bottom of the first with a solo shot over the center field fence.

The Golden Eagles put together a four run inning in the bottom of the second. Boardman led off the frame with a double to left field, followed by a Jones single and a walk dealt to Bayliss. With the bases juiced, Khailyn Neumayer (Sr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) hit an infield single to plate Jones. Rodriguez kept the inning going with a single to right center to bring Antolak and Bayliss to the platter. Neumayer then scored on a passed ball to move the advantage to 5-0.

The Fighting Saints cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the third. With the bases loaded, Natalie Gaber hit a sacrifice fly to bring home ApRoberts. Mooney then knocked one over the fence to score herself, Bayer and Allison Williams.

Minnesota Crookston added two runs in the bottom of the third. Morales came through with a two RBI double to drive in Tavia Lawson (Fr., C, Hawley, Minn.) and Boardman to move the lead to 7-4.

The Golden Eagles exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fourth. Allen opened up the scoring in the frame with a single to center field to knock in Rodriguez. Boardman then singled in Trujillo to move the lead to 9-4. Morales extended the lead with a base knock to plate Allen. Antolak then singled down the right field line to bring in Boardman to make the advantage 11-4. Minnesota Crookston got the final run of the inning as Rocky Bjorge (So., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) walked with the bases loaded to drive in Bayliss to put the Golden Eagles up 12-4.

Carroll cut the lead to 12-5 when Gaber grounded out to drive in Bayer.

Minnesota Crookston put a stamp on the win and earned the run rule when Klaphake reached on an error, allowing Trujillo to score and end the game 13-5 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles open up their Spring Break trip March 11. Minnesota Crookston will play 12 games in seven days in Leesburg, Fla., and Clermont, Fla. The Golden Eagles will face Post University March 11 at 3:30 p.m. and University of Charleston at 6 p.m. in Clermont, Fla.