CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team hosted their first home doubleheader in 368 days Wed., April 25 against St. Cloud State University. The Golden Eagles had been travelling all season long prior to Wednesday due to the inclement weather and field conditions of their home park. The Golden Eagles competed but fell short 6-3 and 10-1 to the Huskies.

The Golden Eagles put up a strong fight in game one utilizing home runs from seniors Gabriel Antolak (C, Zimmerman, Minn.) and Victoria Bayliss (Sr., OF, West Bloomfield, Mich.). Bayliss' two-run home run was the first blast of her career at any level.

Minnesota Crookston moved to 6-36 (2-18 NSIC) with Wednesday's losses. St. Cloud State improved to 32-15 (18-8 NSIC) with the sweep on the day.

Game One
Minnesota Crookston put up three runs on eight hits in the first game. Bayliss guided the Golden Eagles as she went 2-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. Antolak finished 2-of-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Rocky Bjorge (So., 1B/3B, Prior Lake, Minn.) finished 2-of-3. Maycee Trujillo (Jr., 3B, Sioux Falls, S.D.) went 1-of-3 with a run scored.

Mikayla Jones (Jr., Huxley, Iowa) put up a strong outing in relief as she gave up just one run on two hits in three innings of work. Paige Pitlick (So., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) got the start and suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits in 1.1 innings. Luisa Silvain (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) allowed two runs on one hit in 2.2 frames.

Kate Kopeck picked up the win for the Huskies as she allowed just three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in a complete game.

The Huskies picked up six runs on eight hits. Brooke Bowlin paced St. Cloud State by going 2-of-4 with an RBI. Cassie Francesconi went 2-of-2 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Morgan Keating was 1-of-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Huskies set the tone in the first inning with three runs. Morgan Emmans hit a two-out blast to put St. Cloud State ahead 1-0. A Keating double drove in Haley McFarlane to move the lead to 2-0. Keating came around on a wild pitch to extend the advantage to 3-0.

Minnesota Crookston got a run back in the bottom of the second with a solo shot from Antolak to cut the lead to 3-1.

The Huskies moved their lead to 4-1 in the fourth as Francesconi hit a solo home run.

St. Cloud State extended the score to 5-1 when Megan Conrads singled in Emmans.

The Huskies took their lead out to 6-1 in the top of the sixth when Bowling drove in Fransesconi.

Minnesota Crookston put up a fight in the bottom of the seventh when Bayliss hit the first home run of her career to plate herself and Trujillo. The Golden Eagles would be unable to get any more runs as they fell short 6-3.

Game Two
The Golden Eagles held the game close for the first four innings before the Huskies used five runs in the fifth and three runs in the sixth to secure a 10-1 win.

Jones started out strong in the circle, before allowing five runs in the fifth. She went 4.2 innings and allowed six earned runs on nine hits in 4.2 innings with two strikeouts.

Kassidy Klaphake (Sr., RHP, Cold Spring, Minn.) pitched 1.1 innings and allowed three unearned runs on two hits.

Bradi Yost got the win for St. Cloud State after giving up one unearned run on five hits in six innings.

Minnesota Crookston scored one run on five hits. The Golden Eagles were paced by Trujillo, whow as 2-of-3 for the game. Antolak, Bjorge and Samantha Proctor (So., C/1B, Prior Lake, Minn.) all finished 1-of-3.

St. Cloud State was led by Emmans, who was 2-of-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Alexis Jacobs finished 2-of-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Kylie Thomsen was 1-of-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The Huskies hit four home runs on the day with Jacobs, Amanda Moncelle, Libby Bingham and Thomsen all putting the ball over the fence. In addition, Emmans hit a two-RBI double in the fifth to help St. Cloud State to the 10-1 win.

The lone run for Minnesota Crookston scored in the sixth when Jenna Boardman (Sr., 2B/SS, Genoa, Wis.) reached on an error, allowing Sam Rarick (Jr., UT, East Grand Forks, Minn.) to come around to score.

The Golden Eagles wrap up the 2018 season at home Sat., April 28 and Sun., April 29. Minnesota Crookston faces University of Sioux Falls Saturday at 1 and 3 p.m. and Southwest Minnesota State University Sunday at 12 and 2 p.m.