BISMARCK, N.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team fell in a doubleheader Thursday, April 7 to the University of Mary 12-6 and 8-0. UMary overcame an early 6-1 deficit in the first game, and jumped out to an early lead and didn't look back in the second tilt.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 12-19 (3-3 NSIC) with the losses Thursday. UMary improved to 4-24 (2-6 NSIC) with the victories.

Game One

The Marauders scored 11 unanswered runs in the final four innings to overcome an early 6-1 deficit and win 12-6 over the Golden Eagles.

The Marauders were led by Emari Evans, who went four innings, allowing five earned runs, on 10 hits. Evans struck out one, and walked two. Nicole Eckhardt came on in relief, allowing no runs, on two hits, over two innings.

Evie Stuck (Fr., RHP, Papillion, Neb.) came on in relief, allowing nine earned runs, on 13 hits. Stuck struck out three, and walked two.

UMN Crookston had 12 hits in the first game. The Golden Eagles looked to Jordan Peterson (R-Sr., UT, Lakeville, Minn.), who went 3-of-4, with a run scored. Shaelyn Grant (So., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) was 1-of-4, with four RBIs, and a run scored, including a grand slam. Alina Avalos (Jr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) was 2-of-4, with a run scored. Dana Zarn (Jr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) was 2-of-3, with a run scored.

The Marauders were propelled by Haley Berube, who was 4-of-4, with six RBIs, and three runs scored. Avery Dome finished 2-of-4, with three runs scored. Sariah Perez was 2-of-4, with two runs scored. Madison Wszolek, who went 2-of-3, with two RBIs.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second. To open up the scoring, Leah Macias (Sr., OF, West Covina, Calif.) grounded out, driving in Peterson. In the next at-bat, Zarn scored on an error at first base, after Jenna Parfeniuk (So., UT, Winnipeg, Manitoba) grounded out.

UMary trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the bottom of the second when Wszolek singled to right center, driving in Berube.

In the top of the third, Grant took one over the center field fence for a grand slam, plating herself, Avalos, Sydney Huwe (Fr., IF, Carver, Minn.), and Whitnee Curry (Fr., 2B/SS, Lincoln, Neb.) to push the advantage to 6-1.

UMary got four runs back in the bottom of the third. A Perez single to center field, and an error, allowed Dome to score to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 6-2. Berube then put one over the fence, driving in herself, Perez, herself, and Brooke De Jong, cutting the deficit to 6-5.

Berube came through again in the fourth, this time with a single, driving in Dome, and Natasha Stubbs, as UMary took the 7-6 advantage. Later in the frame, Devyn Ritz reached on an error, bringing in Berube, and Perez to push the lead to 9-6. The Marauders widened the gap to 10-6 when Wszolek doubled, scoring Ritz.

The Marauders pushed the lead to 11-6 when Berube doubled to left field, scoring Dome.

UMary widened their lead to 12-6 on a Kaylee Kannegiesser sacrifice bunt, plating Ritz in the bottom of the sixth.

The Golden Eagles were unable to make up the deficit as they fell 12-6.

Game Two
UMary defeated the Golden Eagles 8-0 in the second game of the doubleheader. The Marauders were guided by Nicole Eckhardt, who tossed a two-hit shutout in the circle. Eckhardt struck out two, and walked two.

Thayda Houser (R-So., RHP, Seymour, Iowa) got the start and suffered the loss after giving up seven runs, on nine hits over four innings. Houser struck out five, and walked one. Kamryn Frisk (R-Sr., RHP, Anchorage, Alaska) pitched in relief, giving up one run, on two hits, in 0.1 innings. Frisk struck out one, and walked one.

The Golden Eagles were guided by Shaelyn Grant (So., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) went 1-of-2, as did Ariana Gambala (So., UT, San Diego, Calif.).

UMary had 11 hits for the game. The Maraders were led by DeJonge, going 2-of-2, with two runs scored. Ritz finished 2-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Berube went 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Retura was 2-of-3, while Stubbs was 1-of-3, with two RBIs.

The Marauders jumped out to a quick lead after putting up a five spot in the bottom of the first. UMary went up 2-0 when Berube doubled to right center, scoring Saria, and Eryn De Jonge. The Marauders widened the gap to 3-0 when Ritz doubled to left field, scoring Berube. They capped off the bottom of the first with a Brooke McClure two-run home run, scoring herself, and Ritz, pushing the score to 5-0.

The Marauders extended their lead to 6-0 in the second when De Jonge scored on a wild pitch.

UMary capped off the win in the bottom of the fifth when Stubbs hit a two RBI single, plating De Jonge, and Ariana Retura.

Minnesota Crookston is slated to play Winona State at home Saturday, April 9 at 1 and 3 p.m., and Upper Iowa University at home Sunday, April 10 at 1 and 3 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.