Box Score ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell 3-2 in extra innings to Jamestown University in their first game at the Presentation College Dome Tournament in Aberdeen, S.D. The Golden Eagles forced extra innings with a pinch-hit game-tying single from Annjelica Moreno-Engelbrecht (R-Jr., P/UT, Oceanside, Calif.), but Jamestown scored the decisive run in the top of the eighth.
Minnesota Crookston continued a strong start, but dropped to 3-2 with the loss. Jamestown moved to 1-1 with Friday's victory. The Golden Eagles were late getting started on Friday due to travel issues due to Friday's storm across the Midwest.

Kamryn Frisk (R-Sr., RHP, Anchorage, Alaska) got the start and went five innings with one unearned run, two strikeouts, and no walks. Thayda Houser (R-So., RHP, Seymour, Iowa) went three innings and allowed two runs on three strikeouts, with seven walks. Houser suffered the loss Friday.

Katie Merchant picked up the win after tossing seven innings, and allowed two runs on seven hits. Merchant had nine strikeouts, and just one walk. Merchant picked up the win, while Hailey Schaffer picked up the save.

At the plate, Minnesota Crookston was propelled by Alina Avalos (Jr., IF, Riverside, Calif.), who went 2-of-4 with one run scored. Jordan Peterson (R-Sr., UT, Lakeville, Minn.) went 2-of-1 with an RBI. Alyssa Stillman (Jr., SS/2B, Hortonville, Wis.) finished 1-of-3 with a run scored.

The Jimmies were guided at the plate by Gracie Fisher, who went 2-of-4 with an RBI, and a run scored. Steph Cota finished 1-of-5 with two RBIs. Merchant finished 2-of-3 for the game.

Minnesota Crookston jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first when Peterson singled to center field to plate Avalos.

Jamestown answered in the top of the second when Merchant singled, and Katie Reisdorfer came in to score on an error.

The Jimmies threatened in the top of the fifth. Merchant singled to center to open the stanza. Jamestown put runners on the corners with a Camryn Schwab single with one out. Frisk got a big out as they put pinch-runner Julia Byrne out at home at the fielder's choice. With two outs and runners on the corners, Houser came on in relief and got a crucial pop out to get out of any trouble.

Jamestown moved into the 2-1 advantage with a Gracie Fisher solo shot over the left field fence in the top of the sixth. Houser walked Merchant and Reisdorfer after securing two outs as Jamestown looked to make it a big inning. Both runners moved a base on the passed ball to give the Jimmies two runners in scoring position with two outs. Houser loaded the bases with a walk offered to Ally Battistoni. Houser stepped up and got a big strikeout of Schwab to keep the damage limited as the Jimmies led 2-1.

The Jimmies again looked to pad their lead in the top of the seventh. La La Romero led off the inning with a walk. With one out, Fisher walked to give the Jimmies two on, and just one out. Jamestown loaded up the bases when Santina Zito reached on an error. Houser secured the two outs to get out of the frame unscathed.

Minnesota Crookston looked to rally with their last chance in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Stillman laced a single to left field. She moved to second base on a wild pitch to put the game-tying run within scoring position. With two outs, Moreno-Engelbrecht came up with a clutch pinch-hit to drive in Stillman and force extra innings.

The Jimmies put two on as Battistoni and Romero were each walked by Houser. Frisk came back on to try to get the final out in the inning. However, Steph Cota broke through with a single to drive in Battistoni to give Jamestown a 3-2 lead. Frisk was able to get a groundout to get out of the half inning.

Schaffer came on to try to get the final three outs of the game for the Jimmies and she did just that, as the Golden Eagles were unable to make up the difference, falling 3-2.

Minnesota Crookston will face Jamestown in a second game Saturday, February 12 at 8 a.m. in Aberdeen, S.D.