Mankato, Minn.—The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team was looking to snap a nine-game losing streak against the Mavericks of Minnesota State Mankato.
The Mavericks used outstanding pitching to sweep the Golden Eagles, by scores of 8-0 in the first game and 2-0 in game two.
The Mavericks continue to stay hot, winning their fifth consecutive game to improve to 27-17 overall (12-10 NSIC). The Golden Eagles fall to 13-33 overall (2-20 NSIC).
Game One
The Golden Eagles gave the start to
Paige Pitlick (Jr., P, Jordan, Minn.) in the circle. Pitlick got through the first inning with no damage done, but the Mavericks scored two runs in the bottom of the second, helped out by number nine hitter Courtney Potter's RBI single.
In the bottom of the fourth frame, Cori Kennedy ripped a two RBI single through the left side that scored Kayla Moky and McKenzie Paap to put the Mavericks up 4-0. The Mavericks would add one more to lead 5-0 heading into the fifth inning.
After holding the Golden Eagles scoreless in the top half of the fifth stanza, the Mavericks would score three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to end the game due to the eight-run mercy rule that goes into effect in the fifth inning. The Mavericks would win the first game 8-0.
The Mavericks were led by the top two hitters in their batting order, Paap and Moky, who each had two of the 10 hits for the purple and gold.
Offensively for the Golden Eagles, they were only able to collect one hit and that came off the bat of
Malia Pula (Jr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.). Minnesota Crookston left just one runner on base.
In the circle, Pitlick gave up five runs on six hits, while striking out one and giving up four walks in 3.0 innings of work.
Mikayla Jones (Sr., P, Huxley, Iowa) came in of relief of Pitlick and went 1.2 innings, while giving up three runs on four hits, while striking out two.
Game Two
In game two, it turned out to be a pitching duel between Golden Eagle starter
Taylor Graven (So., P, Greene, Iowa) and Maverick starter Lexi Schoper.
The Mavericks scored a run right away in the bottom of the first after Paap stole third, and scored after the throw to third from Pula sailed over the head of third baseman Alison Martinson (Fr., UT, Grafton, N.D.), allowing Paap to score to take an early 1-0 lead.
The game would stay that way until the bottom of the fourth when the Mavericks' Hannah Hastings singled off of Graven that scored Amber Kral to lead 2-0.
That would be the way game two would end, as the Golden Eagles couldn't come up with a clutch hit against Schoper in the late innings.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles were led by
Hannah Macias (Fr., OF, West Covina, Calif.), who had two of the five hits for Minnesota Crookston.
Maggie Morales (Sr., 3B, Tuscon, Ariz.), Mika Rodriguez (Jr., Laveen, Ariz.) and Martinson each collected a hit in the second game. The Golden Eagles left three runners on base.
In the circle, Graven was outstanding, giving up two runs on eight hits, while striking out five in 6.0 innings of work. Graven falls to 5-9 on the season. Unfortunately for Graven, Schoper was just a little bit better, giving up five hits and striking out five in 6.1 innings of work. Mackenzie Ward picked up her fourth save of the season.
The Golden Eagles are back in action tomorrow afternoon when they travel to St. Paul, Minn., to do battle with Concordia-St. Paul. The doubleheader is set to start at 12 p.m.
