CLERMONT, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team picked up a split on opening day at The Spring Games – PFX Athletics in Clermont, Fla. The Golden Eagles opened the day with a 5-2 win over Post University and fell 5-4 in the night-cap to University of Charleston.

Minnesota Crookston obtained the 4-2 lead in the top of the fourth against the Post Eagles when Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) doubled to drive in Rocky Bjorge (So., 1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) and Jenna Boardman (Sr., SS/2B, Genoa, Wis.). The Golden Eagles came away with the 5-2 victory.

In the second game, the Golden Eagles fell behind 5-1 in the top of the seventh as Charleston scored two runs in their half. Minnesota Crookston put up a comeback with three runs in the bottom of the seventh, but they would strand the game-tying run in the form of Boardman on second.

The Golden Eagles move to 4-8 with Sunday's split. Post, a NCAA Division II school in Waterbury, Conn., starts the season 0-2 following losses to Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State University. University of Charleston, a Division II school in Charleston, W.V., improves to 10-4 on the season.

Game 1 vs. Post
Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) got the win in relief for Minnesota Crookston after going four innings in relief, and giving up no runs on one hit with two strikeouts and two walks. Jones moves to 3-2 on the season. Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) continued her strong start to the season with an impressive outing as she started in the circle. Silvain went three innings and gave up just one earned run on five hits.

Leslie Denis suffered the loss after giving up four runs on three hits with four walks and two strikeouts in four innings of work. Brianna Rotunno also pitched and gave up one run on three hits with two strikeouts in three innings.

Minnesota Crookston looked to Gabriel Antolak (Sr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) at the plate as he was 1-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, including a solo home run. Maycee Trujillo (Jr., 3B/C, Sioux Falls, S.D.) went 1-of-3 with one RBI, while Boardman was 1-of-2 with one run and Morales was 1-of-3 with two RBIs.
Post looked to Emily Schaffer, who went 1-of-3 with two runs scored. Demi Rivera was 1-of-2 with two RBIs.

Minnesota Crookston got on the board right away in the top of the first as Antolak crossed the dish on a Trujillo ground out to second base. Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) scored later in the inning after Khailyn Neumayer (Sr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) stole second and Bayliss took home to put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-0.

The Eagles cut the lead to 2-1 when Rivera hit a sacrifice fly to center field to drive in Schaffer.

Post knotted the game up 2-2 in the bottom of the third as Rivera singled to plate Schaffer.

Minnesota Crookston got the runs back as they put up two in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded, Morales came up in a clutch situation and doubled in Bjorge and Boardman as the Golden Eagles regained the lead 4-2.

Post would threaten in the bottom of the sixth as Brianna Koref reached on a hit by pitch and Geanna Serechia was walked. However, Jones got Kailyn Biello to line out to right to hold the 4-2 lead.

Minnesota Crookston gained a security run in the top of the seventh as Antolak blasted her second home run of the season to move the advantage to 5-2.
Skylar Devorin led off the bottom half of the seventh for the Post Eagles with a double. Jones came up big in the circle as she got the next three out as Minnesota Crookston won 5-2.

Game 2 vs. Charleston
Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) got the start in the circle against Charleston for Minnesota Crookston. Klaphake would suffer the loss after giving up one earned run on two hits with 1.2 innings of work. Heather Cunningham (Sr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) saw work in relief as she allowed one earned run on two hits in 1.1 innings. Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) followed Cunningham and gave up one run on two hits in three innings. Jones then wrapped up the game as she allowed two runs on two hits in one inning with two strikeouts.

Carlee Lucas got the win for the Charleston Golden Eagles as she tossed five innings and gave up just one earned run on four hits. Jessie Rowe came on in relief and allowed three runs on four hits in two innings.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Taylor Allen (Fr., C/OF, Neepawa, Manitoba), who went 3-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) finished 2-of-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Boardman was 2-of-2 with two RBIs.

Charleston looked to Shelby Ume, who went 3-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Ann-Judie Martin went 2-of-2 with one run scored for the Charleston Golden Eagles.

Charleston got the board first in the top of the first as Kendall Marshall reached on an error by Boardman at short stop, as Karli Pinkerton came around to score.
The Golden Eagles of Charleston threatened in the top of the second with an Ume single and walks to Rachel Rusch and Siarra Harrington, but Cunningham got a crucial fly out by Pinkerton to keep the deficit at 1-0.

Minnesota Crookston had an opportunity in the bottom of the second as they had the bases loaded following a single from Allen, a hit by pitch dealt to Trujillo and a walk to Cunningham. However, Charleston got two crucial outs as they held the 1-0 lead.

The Charleston Golden Eagles added a run in the top of the third as Ume singled to plate Martin. They had a greater opportunity but ultimately left three runners stranded on base as they ended the frame with a 2-0 lead.

Minnesota Crookston cut the lead to 2-1 as Boardman walked with the bases loaded to score Rodriguez. The Golden Eagles still had the bases loaded, but Charleston struck out Bjorge and Trujillo to keep the score at 2-1.

Charleston added a security run in the top of the fourth when Harrington hit a solo shot over the fence to move the lead to 3-1.

The Charleston Golden Eagles added a pair of runs in the top of the seventh. Haleigh Christopher opened the inning with a triple. She came around to score as Ume doubled to move the lead to 4-1. Ume came into score on an Emily Dutton sacrifice line out to center field to extend the advantage to 5-1.

The Golden Eagles responded as Rodriguez doubled to plate Bayliss to cut the deficit to 5-2. With two outs, Allen came through with a single to drive in Rodriguez to move Minnesota Crookston closer at 5-3. Boardman then doubled in Allen as Minnesota Crookston pulled within one run at 5-4. However, Charleston got the final out of the game as Trujillo grounded out to third base to lead the game-tying run at second in the form of Boardman.

Minnesota Crookston will look to continue their strong play Mon., March 12 as they play three games at Sleepy Hollow Recreation Complex in Leesburg, Fla. The Golden Eagles open the day at 8 a.m. C.T. against Concordia University (Mich.). They then face Indiana University-South Bend at 1 p.m. C.T. They conclude the day against Southern Connecticut State at 6 p.m.