Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Minot, N.D.—The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team was back out in the magic city for four games this weekend in the Minot State Dome. The Golden Eagles did battle with the Dragons of Minnesota State University, Moorhead for the second time this season.
 
Malia Pula (Jr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.) proved to be the entire offense for head coach Travis Owen and his squad, driving in all six runs in the 6-4 victory for Minnesota Crookston.
 
With the win, the Golden Eagles improve to 4-5 on the young season, while the Dragon woes continue as they move to 0-7.
 
The Dragons would come out of the gates fast, putting up a crooked number in the second inning. MSUM scored four runs in the second inning, led by an Emma Drummer double.
 
It wouldn't take long for the Golden Eagles to answer. Pula drove in two runs with a double in the top of the third, which scored Mikaela Rodriguez (Jr., 2B/SS, Laveen, Ariz.) and Haley Strachan (Sr., OF, Phoenix, Ariz.).
 
Pula would add to her RBI total with a grand slam the next time she came up to bat. That grand slam brought her RBI total to six and it put the Golden Eagles up for good.
 
Leah Macias (Fr., OF, West Covina, Calif.), Rodriguez and Hannah Macias (Fr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) each had one hit on the day. Strachan had two and three hits, respectively on the day as well.
 
The Golden Eagles finished with eight hits on the day and left just five on the base paths.
 
In the circle, Taylor Graven (So., P, Greene, Iowa) was outstanding all day long. Graven went all seven innings, giving up just six hits, while striking out four and walking three. All four of the Dragons runs were earned. Graven improves to 2-0 on the season with the victory.
 
Head coach Travis Owen liked what he saw from his team in game one.
 
"We made some adjustments at the plate coming out a bit more aggressive after the start of game one," Owen said. "A few things to clean up defensively but overall our defense and pitching kept us in it and we had some big hits with runners on."
 
The second game would turn out to be much different for the Golden Eagles who fell 10-3 to the University of Mary.
 
UMary would use big innings in the third and sixth innings to pull away from the Golden Eagles.
 
The Golden Eagles could only muster up just three hits by Pula, Macias and Strachan, who each had one hit apiece.
 
In the circle, the Golden Eagles had to use three pitchers to get seven innings. Paige Pitlick (Jr., P/1B, Jordan, Minn.) started the game, but lasted just two innings, while giving up five runs. Mikayla Jones (Sr., P, Huxley, Iowa) and Graven saw time in the circle as well.
 
With the loss, the Golden Eagles fall to 4-6 overall on the season. The Golden Eagles are back in action tomorrow morning with Valley City State University on the docket. The Golden Eagles and Vikings first pitch is set for 10 a.m.