CLERMONT, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team lost a pair of games Tues., March 13 at Legends Way Ballfields in Clermont, Fla. As part of The Spring Games – PFX Athletics. The Golden Eagles fell 9-0 to Purdue University Northwest in the first game of the day. Minnesota Crookston dropped the second game of the day 4-2 to Jefferson University as they gave up four runs in the second inning and were unable to come back.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 4-13 on the season with Tuesday's losses. The Golden Eagles move to 1-6 so far on their Florida trip. Minnesota Crookston has been close in several games as they have lost three games by two or less runs and another game in 11 innings. Purdue Northwest improves to 7-6 on the season. Jefferson sits at 4-5 on the 2018 season.

Game 1 vs. Purdue Northwest
The Golden Eagles were stifled on the day by the Purdue Northwest pitching as Mia Stevens threw a one-hit shutout over five innings in game one of the day for Minnesota Crookston. Stevens improves to 3-0 on the season.

Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs on two hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Heather Cunningham (Sr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) came on in relief and gave up three runs on four hits in 1.1 innings. Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) allowed three runs on one hit with one walks in 0.2 innings of work.

The one hit for Minnesota Crookston on the day came from Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.).

The Pride had seven hits for the day paced by Kalyn Leonard, who went 2-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Alexis Madrigal went 1-of-3 with three RBIs and one run scored, while Taylor Kotzo was 1-of-2 with two runs scored.

Neither team got on the scoreboard in the first two innings. Purdue Northwest broke the tie in the top of the third as Leonard crossed the plate after stealing third and scoring on an error by the catcher Taylor Allen (Fr., C/OF, Neepawa, Manitoba).

The Pride added three runs in the top of the fourth started by a Tessa Steffens double to plate Kotzo. Leonard then delivered a single to plate Steffens and Olivia Sardella to extend the lead to 4-0.

Purdue Northwest came through with a five-run top of the fifth. The scoring opened up as Holly Pagan walked with the bases loaded to drive in Samme Miller. Madrigal then cleared the bases with a triple to score Pagan, Kotzo and Kyleigh Payne to move the advantage to 8-0. Madrigal came home to score on a Steffens groundout to extend the lead to 9-0.

The game would be called after the bottom of the fifth due to run rule as Minnesota Crookston was unable to close the gap.

Game 2 vs. Jefferson
Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) put forth another strong outing in the circle for Minnesota Crookston, however errors continue to plague the Golden Eagles as two crucial mistakes in the second frame allowed for three of the four runs. Silvain gave up four unearned runs in her outing with four strikeouts and two walks in 3.1 innings of work. Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) came on in relief and had a strong performance, shutting out the Rams in 2.2 innings with just two hits allowed and two strikeouts.

Naomi Stas earned the win for Jefferson after allowing two runs on eight hits with three strikeouts and three walks. Stephanie Pepper picked up the save after shutting down the Golden Eagles in 1.2 innings of work with five strikeouts.

Jefferson opened up the scoring in the bottom of the second. Emily Bradley reached on an error at third base by Amanda Trandem (Fr., 3B/C, Crookston, Minn.), allowing Jovanna Alfonsi to come in to score. Later in the inning, Katelyn Stys scored on a passed ball to move the lead to 2-0. Stas then reached on another error at third base by Trandem as Bradley and Madison Heno scored to extend the advantage to 4-0.

Minnesota Crookston responded in the top of the fourth. With one out, Khailyn Neumayer (Sr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) singled. Samantha Proctor (So., C/1B, Champlin, Minn.) delivered a double to plate Neumayer to cut the lead to 4-1. With still only one out, Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) reached on an error by the short stop, bringing Proctor in to score. Jefferson got out of the inning as Minnesota Crookston stranded two but were still able to cut the lead down to 4-2.

Minnesota Crookston threatened in the top of the fifth as Bayliss and Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) opened up the frame with back-to-back singles. Rodriguez gave the Golden Eagles runners in scoring position as she stole second. Jones would strike out in the next at-bat and Bayliss would be caught stealing home to give the Golden Eagles two quick outs. Neumayer ended the inning with a groundout as the Golden Eagles failed to score.

The Golden Eagles had another key opportunity in the top of the sixth. With one out, Sam Rarick (Jr., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) walked and Morales doubled. Minnesota Crookston had the bases loaded with one out as Pepper came on to pitch from the Rams. The Jefferson reliever got back-to-back strikeouts to get out of the frame unscathed, holding on to a 4-2 lead.

Minnesota Crookston would be unable to get a run in the top of the seventh despite Jones keeping the squad in it with her relief pitching as the Golden Eagles fell 4-2 to the Rams.

Gabriel Antolak (Sr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) led Minnesota Crookston, at the plate going 2-of-4. Proctor finished 1-of-3 with one RBI and one run scored, while Morales was 2-of-3.

The Rams looked to Heno, who was 2-of-3 with one run scored. Courtney Wensel finished 2-of-3, while Alfonsi was 1-of-3 with one run scored.

Minnesota Crookston has an off day Wed., March 14 before returning to action Thurs., March 15 at 7:30 a.m. C.T. against Millersville University and 9:30 a.m. C.T. versus Slippery Rock University.