TOPEKA, Kan. – The University of Minnesota Crookston dropped a pair of games Sunday, February 28 at the Wasburn Invitational Presented by Capitol Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Topeka, Kan. The Golden Eagles played both games at Hummer Sports Park. UMN Crookston fell 4-3 to McKendree University in the morning, and then they were defeated 18-6 by Emporia State University.

The Golden Eagles end their non-conference slate with a 2-10 mark. McKendree moves to 1-2 with the victory. Emporia State improves to 4-1 with the win.

Game One
UMN Crookston had a sixth inning rally fall short in a 4-3 loss to McKendree University. The Golden Eagles had six hits on the game, but they ultimately came up short.

McKendree got on the scoreboard first when Meka Elmore reached on an error, allowing Kelsey Sachs to come into score. Later in the frame, Taylor Allen, a former Golden Eagle, came in and scored on a passed ball.

The Bearcats pushed the lead to 3-0 in the fifth when Miranda Gajewski singled to drive in Caitlin Lowry. McKendree extended their lead to 4-0 when Paige Hayden scored on a Shelby Summer fielder's choice.

The Golden Eagles got their rally going when Shaelyn Grant (Fr., C, Grand Junction, Colo.) doubled to center field to plate Alina Avalos (So., 1B/P, Riverside, Calif.) and Samantha Gutierrez (Fr., UT, Riverside, Calif.). In the next at-bat Hailey Hatfield (Fr., UT, Olathe, Kan.) singled to drive in Grant. Leah Macias (Jr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) was hit by a pitch in the next at-bat, moving Hatfield, the game-tying run to second base. However, McKendree obtained a key out to get out of danger.

UMN Crookston was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh as the Bearcats would hang on for a 4-3 win.

Katie Humhej (Sr., P, Surrey, British Columbia) got the start in the circle and allowed two earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts in four innings. Kamryn Frisk (Sr., P, Anchorage, Alaska) had a strong outing in relief, allowing no runs on just one hit in three innings of work.

Gajewski got the win for McKendree, allowing three runs on six hits with six strikeouts in seven innings in the circle.

UMN Crookston was led at the plate by Grant, who went 1-of-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Hatfield finished 1-of-2 with one RBI, while Dana Zarn (So., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) was 1-of-3.

Game Two
Emporia State utilized a 10-run third inning to catapult them to an 18-6 win over UMN Crookston in the second game of the day.

The Hornets got on the scoreboard first when Roni Raines singled to drive in Kelsey Phillips and Emma Furnish to take a 2-0 lead. The Golden Eagles responded as they cut the deficit to 2-1 when Gabriela Blomdahl (So., OF, Duluth, Minn.) scored on a Grant groundout.

Emporia State widened their lead to 4-1 when Abbey Ward tripled to drive in Rachel Kauss and Destiny Ojigoh.

The Hornets had a big inning in the third as they scored 10 runs. Emporia State started out their big frame when Josie Harrison singled to plate Cassidy Beem to extend the advantage to 5-1. Ojigoh then reached on an error, allowing Harrison and Raines to come into score to push the lead to 7-1. Later in the frame,

Gabby Biondo grounded out, driving in Ojigoh. The Hornets extended their lead to 9-1 when Kauss stole home. Emporia State pushed the lead to 10-1 when Phillips singled in Ward. The Hornets pushed their advantage to 11-1 when Beem singled to plate Furnish. Emporia State went ahead 13-1 as Raines singled to drive in Beem and Phillips. The Hornets capped off the inning when Harrison doubled to plate Raines.

The Golden Eagles were able to take a slice out of the Emporia State lead in the bottom of the third. Rachel Jones (Fr., UT, Fort Collins, Colo.) singled to drive in Jordan Peterson to cut the lead to 14-2. In the next at-bat, Cassie Querry (Sr., C, Cassville, Pa.) belted a three-run home run to drive in herself, Jones, and Grant to cut the deficit to 14-5.

Emporia State pushed their lead to 15-5 in the fourth using a Ward solo home run.

The Hornets extended their lead to 16-5 in the fifth when Harrison had an infield single to drive in Beem. Emporia State pushed their lead to 17-5 when Kerrigan Dixon singled to drive in Alexis Dial. Later in the frame, Harrison scored on a Karly Johnson fielder's choice to push their lead to 18-5.

A Hannah Macias (Jr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) triple drove in Hatfield in the fifth. The Golden Eagles were unable to overcome the deficit any further as Emporia State won 18-6 in the run-ruled game.

Sofia Gombos (Fr., P, Salinas, Calif.) got the start for UMN Crookston and allowed five earned runs on 11 hits with one strikeout. Frisk came on in relief and allowed four runs on two hits with two walks in 1.1 innings of work. Avalos pitched to one batter.

Phillips got the win for the Hornets, pitching four innings and allowing no earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts.

At the plate, UMN Crookston was guided by Querry, who went 1-of-3 with three RBIs. Hannah Macias finished 2-of-3 with one RBI, while Jones was 1-of-3 with one RBI and a run scored.

The Golden Eagles return to action March 17 as they open up NSIC play with a doubleheader against Minnesota State University Moorhead.