ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 7-3 to Northwestern College (Iowa) and 4-0 to St. Cloud State University on day two of the Kelly Laas Tournament at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud, Minn.
Paige Pitlick (Sr., RHP, Jordan, Minn.) had a strong pitching performance against the Huskies in game two, going six innings with seven strikeouts and just three walks with just two earned runs allowed. However, Minnesota Crookston was held to one hit on the game.
In the first game of the day against the Red Raiders, Northwestern scored seven runs in the first three innings. Minnesota Crookston looked to make up the ground with two runs in the bottom of the third and one in the bottom of the fourth, but they were unable to close the gap in the 7-3 loss.
Game One
Alina Avalos (Fr., RHP, Riverside, Calif.) got the start in the circle and went two innings, allowing four earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts to three walks on the day.
Kamryn Frisk (Jr., RHP, Anchorage, Alaska) had a strong outing in relief, throwing four innings with just one run allowed on four hits. Pitlick pitched one inning of relief, giving up no runs on two hits.
Minnesota Crookston tallied seven hits on the game.
Malia Pula (Sr., UT, Gilroy, Calif.) has continued her strong performance at the plate, going 2-of-4 for the game with two RBIs with a double.
Jordan Peterson (R-So., UT, Lakeville, Minn.) finished 2-of-4 with one run scored.
Cassie Querry (Jr., C/3B, Cassville, Pa.) was 1-of-3 with one run scored, with her one hit coming on a triple.
Gabriella Blomdahl (Fr., OF, Duluth, Minn.) finished the game 1-of-3.
Samantha Ubben pitched the complete game for the Red Raiders, going seven and allowing three runs on seven hits with eight strikeouts and no walks.
At the plate, Northwestern looked to lead-off hitter Emily Bosh, who was 3-of-4 with an RBI and two runs scored. Jennifer Boever finished 1-of-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Jessica Harald was 2-of-4 with one RBI and a run scored.
The Red Raiders opened up the scoring in the first with three runs. Bri Giordano opened it up with an RBI single to plate Bosh. With the bases loaded later in the frame, Jordyn Kramer was walked on a wild pitch with brought in Giordano and Boever to move the tally to 3-0.
In the second inning, Boever continued her strong game with a two RBI single to bring in Bosh and Lily Anderson.
Northwestern added two more runs in the third stanza. Harald opened it up with a single to plate. Bosh added to the tally with a single, bringing in Harald.
Minnesota Crookston responded in the bottom of the third as Pula doubled to pick up her teammates, as she brought in Peterson and Blomdahl to cut the deficit to 7-2.
In the fourth frame, Querry opened things up with a triple and came around to score on an
Alyssa Stillman (Fr., 2B/SS, Hortonville, Wis.) ground out.
Minnesota Crookston put two runners on base in the bottom of the fifth as Peterson reached on an error, and Pula singled. However, Northwestern was able to get out of trouble and keep the tally at 7-3.
The Golden Eagles would have base runners in the bottom of the sixth and the bottom of the seventh, but were unable to bring them in, as Northwestern picked up the 7-3 victory.
Game Two
The main story line of game two was the pitching of St. Cloud State's duo of Sydney LaPoint and Lauren Kirchberg. LaPoint went three innings with a no-hit shutout with two strikeouts and a walk. Kirchberg came on in relief of LaPoint for the Huskies, and went four innings with four strikeouts and just one hit allowed.
Pitlick was strong over six frames with just five hits allowed and two earned runs given up. Pitlick notched seven strikeouts and three walks.
Blomdahl picked up the lone hit for Minnesota Crookston.
Leah Macias (So., OF, West Covina, Calif.) reached base on a walk.
St. Cloud State looked to Cassie Francesconi, who was 1-of-2 with an RBI and a run scored. Alexandra Pinkowski finished 1-of-3 with an RBI, while Haley McFarlane was 2-of-3.
The Huskies opened up the scoring in the first as Maya Keating scored on an error by Querry at catcher.
St. Cloud State added three runs in the fourth. Francesconi opened it up with a single to plate Ashley Schloer. Pinkowski continued the inning with a double to plate Megan Conrads. The final tally of the game came as Francesconi came around to score on a passed ball.
Minnesota Crookston wraps up play in St. Cloud, Minn., Sun., Feb. 16 as they take on William Jewell College at 9 a.m., and Viterbo University at 1 p.m., at the Husky Dome.
