Minot, N.D. – Minnesota Crookston scored the most runs in a season opener in program history as they defeated Valley City State 16-10 late on Friday in the Minot State Bubble. It is the first win for Head Coach
Nick Weinmeister as a Golden Eagle.
The Golden Eagles start out the season 1-0, while the Vikings fall to 0-1.
The Vikings would waste no time scoring the first runs of the season, after scoring two runs off of
Thayda Houser (So., P, Seymour, Iowa) in the first inning.
The Golden Eagles would answer back in the bottom of the first, using a Viking error to score two unearned runs, after
Whitnee Curry (Fr., IF, Lincoln, Neb.) and
Dana Zarn (Jr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) each crossed home to tie things at two.
The Vikings would score three in the top half of the second on a bases-clearing double by Jessica Husband.
The maroon and gold would answer with five runs in the bottom half of the inning, highlighted by Curry's first career RBI on a single to center field and two RBI's from
Jordan Peterson (R-Sr., UT, Lakeville, Minn.). Peterson would drive in a career-high six RBI's.
VCSU would answer back with three runs in the third and a run in the top of the fourth to take a 9-7 lead.
Peterson would double in a pair and
Alyssa Stillman (Jr., SS/2B, Hortonville, Wis.) would score on a passed ball to give the Golden Eagles a 10-9 lead, which they would never give up.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles would score six runs on six hits, highlighted by an
Emerson Thompson (Fr., 1B/C, Lincoln, Neb.) RBI single, a
Jenna Parfeniuk (R-So., UT, Winnipeg, Manitoba) RBI double and a
Leah Macias (Sr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) RBI triple. The Golden Eagles would lead 16-9 heading into the top of the sixth.
That is all the Golden Eagles would need, as
Kamryn Frisk (R-Sr., P/1B, Anchorage, AK) would shut the door on the VCSU offense.
As a team, the Golden Eagles collected 15 hits, the most in a game since March 18, 2019, when they collected 14 in a win over American International College.
Individually, Minnesota Crookston had six hitters with more than one hit, including Peterson, who had three hits and six RBI's. Macias also finished with three hits. Parfeniuk, Thompson, Curry and
Alina Avalos (Jr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) would each finish with two hits.
In the circle, Houser would get the start and go two innings, while giving up eight runs on six hits, while striking out three. Just three of the eight runs given up were earned. Frisk picked up the win, while going five outstanding innings, giving up two runs, both earned on five hits.
Minnesota Crookston will play two tomorrow, starting with Dakota Wesleyan at 11:30 A.M., and NSIC foe UMary at approximately 4:30 P.M., in non-conference play.
