TOPEKA, Kan. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team picked up a split on day two of the Washburn Invite in Topeka, Kan. Minnesota Crookston picked up a 7-3 victory over Newman University to open the day. In the second tilt, UMN Crookston took No. 20 Washburn into extra innings, but fell 4-2 despite a great effort.

The Golden Eagles moved to 3-6 with Saturday's split. Washburn is 13-3, while Newman is 5-9. The Golden Eagles are 1-2 in games during their trip to Topeka.

Game One
Minnesota Crookston was lifted by a three RBI performance from Dana Zarn (Sr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba) in a 7-3 victory over Newman. Zarn and Alina Avalos (Sr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) both hit balls over the fence in the win.

Thayda Houser (Jr., RHP, Seymour, Iowa) got the start and tossed four innings, allowing just two runs on four hits. Houser struck out two and walked nobody. Evie Stuck (So., RHP, Papillion, Neb.) came on in relief and got the victory. Stuck allowed just one run, on one hit. Stuck struck out one, and walked one over three stanzas.

Jackie Gold suffered the loss in six innings in the circle. Gold allowed three earned runs, on seven hits. Gold struck out five and walked one.

The Golden Eagles were ignited in the first with back-to-back home runs from Avalos and Zarn, as they took a 2-0 advantage.

The Jets pulled within 2-1 in the top of the fourth with a Samantha Gutierrez home run.

Newman tied the game up 2-2 in the top of the fifth when Alex Schreiner scored on a groundout.

The Golden Eagles broke through for three runs in the bottom of the fifth. Haley Koch (So., C, Mondamin, Iowa) started scoring when Avalos reached on an error. In the next at-bat, Zarn doubled to play Brittany Mengel (So., OF, Sullivan, Wis.) and Avalos to extend the lead to 5-2.

The Jets cut the deficit to 5-3 in the top of the sixth when Gianna De Luca-Paape grounded out, scoring Gutierrez.

UMN Crookston padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth when Mengel doubled to left field to score Koch. In the next at-bat Paige Shwaluk (Jr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) reached on an error, allowing pinch-runner Irelyn Spencer (Fr., MIF, Rapid City, S.D.) to score for the Golden Eagles.

Newman was retired in order in the top of the seventh by Stuck to preserve the 7-3 win.
 
Game Two
20^th-ranked Washburn won game two on a two-run walk-off home run by Jaden LaBarge. The Golden Eagles went to extra innings against the Ichabods after a strong outing in the circle from Stuck. Stuck suffered the loss after allowing three earned runs on eight hits. Stuck walked two, and had no strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston had three hits in the game. Paige Shwaluk (Jr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) went 1-of-4, with a run scored. Kate Garcia (Fr., Sylmar, Calif.) scored a run for UMN Crookston. Avalos finished 1-of-4. Shaelyn Grant (Jr., OF/C, Grand Junction, Colo.) finished 1-of-3, with an RBI.

Jaycee Ginter got the win in relief after tossing 5.1 innings, allowing no runs, on no hits. Ginter struck out 11 and walked nobody. Sadie Walker went 2.2 innings, with two earned runs, on three hits. Walker struck out four and walked one.

LaBarge finished 2-of-4, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Marritt Mead was 1-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Ginter went 1-of-4, with an RBI.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to the early 2-0 advantage in the first inning. Paige Shwaluk scored the first run of the game as Avalos reached on a fielder's choice, and Garcia scored on the throw. Later in the inning, Grant reached on the fielder's choice and Garcia scored on the throw to make it 2-0.

Washburn forced extra innings after scoring two in the fifth. Ginter singled to shortstop, to plate J Jenna Moore to cut the deficit to 2-1. Later in the inning, Mead hit a sacrifice fly to score Hadley Kerschen knotting the game up 2-2. Minnesota Crookston had held the advantage for four innings.

The Ichabods took the 4-2 win in the bottom of the eighth with LaBarge's two-run shot, driving in herself and Mead.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up the Washburn Invite Sunday, February 25. The Golden Eagles take on Pittsburg State University Sunday, February 26 at 9:30 a.m., and the University of Nebraska Kearney at 11:30 a.m.