ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team lost a pair of hard-fought games Sat., March 31 to Northern State University. The Golden Eagles had a 3-2 lead in the first game in the top of the third inning before allowing five runs in the bottom of the third and bottom of the fourth. Minnesota Crookston lost the first game by a tally of 7-4. In game two, Minnesota Crookston owned a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the fifth. The Wolves scored four runs to send the game into extra innings before winning it 5-4 in the eighth frame.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 5-21 (1-3 NSIC) with Saturday's doubleheader loss. Northern State improves to 13-11 (3-1 NSIC) with the victories. Minnesota Crookston had a win over the Wolves in non-conference play Feb. 11. Saturday's games were relocated to the Presentation College (PC) Dome in Aberdeen, S.D. due to field conditions at Moccasin Creek Complex.

Game One
Northern State came back from a 3-2 deficit in the first game to take the 7-4 victory. The Wolves were ignited by a two-run home run by Kennady Thompson in the bottom of the fourth.

Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the start for the Golden Eagles but did not get the decision as the Golden Eagles owned the 3-2 lead when she was replaced. Pitlick allowed three runs on six hits with one strikeout and two walks. Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits in 0.2 innings. Heather Cunningham (Sr., RHP, Jacksonville, Fla.) finished up the game in the circle and pitched well as she allowed no runs on three hits in three innings.

Minnesota Crooskton looked to Mikaela Rodriguez (So., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) at the plate as she finished 2-of-4 with one run scored. Khailyn Neumayer (Sr., OF, Morgan Hill, Calif.) finished 2-of-4, while Maggie Morales (Jr., 1B/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) was 2-of-3 for the game.

Jamie Fisher earned the win for the Wolves in the complete game. Fisher allowed three earned runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and two walks in seven frames.

Northern State was guided by Thompson, who was 2-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Katie Dawson finished 2-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Courtney Sjerven was 3-of-4 with oen RBI and one run scored.

The Wolves scored the first two runs of the game when Dawson singled to right center to drive in Thompson and Cassidy Schaar.

The Golden Eagles got a run back in the top of the second as Neumayer singled and Rodriguez came in to score on an error.

Minnesota Crookston overcame Northern State for the lead in the top of the third. Rocky Bjorge (So., 1B/3B, Prior Lake, Minn.) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Taylor Allen (Fr., C/OF, Neepawa, Manitoba.). Luisa Silvain (Jr., P, Tucson, Ariz.) then stole third and Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.) executed the steal of home to put Minnesota Crookston up 3-2.

The Wolves were able to even the slate 3-3 in the bottom of the third when Katie Uittenbogaard hit put one in the air to left field for the sacrifice fly to bring Dawson to the dish.

Northern State put together an onslaught in the bottom of the fourth as they scored four runs. Sjerven came through big again as she tripled through the left side to plate Mackenzie Thielen and put the Wolves up 4-3. Schaar followed with a double to right center to score Sjerven. Thompson followed by putting a stamp on the inning with a two-run blast to score herself and Schaar and put Northern State up 7-4.

Minnesota Crookston threatened in the top of the fifth as Bjorge doubled and Gabriel Antolak (Sr., C/3B, Zimmerman, Minn.) singled with two outs. However, they would be unable to get any runs in as they trailed 7-4.

The Golden Eagles had a chance again in the top of the sixth as Sam Rarick (Jr., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) walked and Morales reached on an error. However, the Wolves got the final two outs of the inning as the score still stayed at 7-4.

Minnesota Crookston had another chance to equalize the score in the top of the seventh. With two runners on, Neumayer singled to left field as Tavia Lawson (Fr., C/OF, Hawley, Minn.) scored on the throw. The Golden Eagles would shave runners on second and third with two out, but Northern State got the final out of the game to secure the victory.

Game Two
Minnesota Crookston ceded a 4-0 lead after the fifth inning as Northern State used four runs to tie up the game and force extra inning. The Wolves won the game in the eighth as Jenna Helgeson doubled to score Dawson.

Mikayla Jones (Jr., RHP, Huxley, Iowa) got the ball in the start. Jones gave up four runs on five hits in five innings. She did not get the decision in the game as she left the ball game with the score tied up 4-4.
Silvain suffered the loss in relief as she allowed just one run on three hits in 2.1 innings. The one run would prove to be the dagger for Minnesota Crookston as they fell 5-4.

The Golden Eagles looked to Neumayer, who was 3-of-4 with two run scored. Jenna Boardman (Sr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) finished 2-of-4.

Makenzie Merritt started for Northern State and allowed just one earned run on six hits with four strikeouts. Fisher picked up the win after allowing no runs on two hits with one strikeout and one walk in three innings.

Northern State looked to Dawson, who was 2-of-4 with one run scored. Helgeson finished 2-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored.

The Golden Eagles broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third as Neumayer scored on an error by the catcher. Jones then came in to score on a Rarick sacrifice fly to put Minnesota Crookston up 2-0.

Minnesota Crookston padded their lead in the top of the fifth. Rarick opened up the scoring as she singled and Neumayer scored on an error at first base. Bayliss continued the scoring as she singled up the middle to plate Rarick.

Northern State quickly got the two runs back in the bottom of the fifth. Uittenbogaard doubled to left center to drive in Helgeson. Sjerven then singled through the left side to plate Uittenbogaard.

The Wolves knotted the game up 4-4 in the bottom of the sixth. Thompson opened things up with a lead-off home run over the left field wall. Later in the frame, Helgeson doubled to right center to plate Rachel Reinke for the equalizer.

Neither team would get the deciding run in seven innings as the teams went to extra innings. Bjorge led off the frame with a lead-off single. However, Minnesota Crookston would be unable to bring Bjorge around to score as the game remained tied at 4-4.

Northern State would be able to get the winning run as Helgeson doubled with runners on first and second. Dawson came around to score the game-winner and put Northern State on top 5-4.
Minnesota Crookston returns to play April 3 at 2 and 4 p.m. against Minot State University. The games are scheduled to be played in Crookston, Minn., but could be moved to the MSU Air-Supported Dome in Minot, N.D.