CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston softball team split with Minot State University Wednesday, April 19 at the UMN Crookston Softball Field. The Golden Eagles fell in a narrow contest 3-1 in game one. In the second tilt, Minnesota Crookston scored six runs in the fourth and fifth innings to earn a 7-4 win over the Beavers.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 15-24 (3-11 NSIC) with the split. Minot State dropped to 23-17 (10-8 NSIC). The Golden Eagles matched their program record for wins (15) set during the 2022 season.

Game One
The Golden Eagles fell 3-1 to the Marauders in the first game. Minnesota Crookston knotted the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth but stranded three runners in the frame. Minot State scored two runs in the top of the seventh to help secure the victory.

Thayda Houser (Jr., RHP, Seymour, Iowa) got the start and tossed seven innings, allowing one earned run on six hits. Houser struck out four and walked two. Houser put the Golden Eagles in a position to win, but fell to 6-6 with the loss.

Reegan Floyd earned the win. She allowed an unearned run on three hits in the complete game. Floyd improved to 8-9 with the victory. She struck out four and walked one.

The Golden Eagles notched three hits in the first game. Alina Avalos (Sr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) went 1-of-3, with an RBI. Dana Zarn (Sr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba went 1-of-2, while Shaelyn Grant (Jr., C/Of, Grand Junction, Colo.) was 1-of-3.

UMary went up 1-0 in the first with a Dawyduk groundout, scoring Leo Watson.

Minnesota Crookston evened the slate in the sixth with an Avalos single to score Kate Garcia (Fr., OF, Sylmar, Calif.). The Golden Eagles loaded the bases as Whitnee Curry (So., MIF, Lincoln, Neb.) reached on a walk, but Floyd struck out Zarn to keep the score at 1-1.

Minot State responded in the seventh. Taylor Smith scored when Taryn Bennett reached on an error to give the Beavers a 2-1 advantage. Bennett scored on an Abbey Kelley groundout to give Minot State a 3-1 lead.

Minnesota Crookston was retired in order in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the 3-1 victory for the Beavers.

Game Two
The Golden Eagles put together four runs in the fourth and two in the fifth to lead to a 7-4 victory over the Beavers in the second game. Minot State scored two runs in the seventh as they attempted a rally, but Minnesota Crookston was able to hang on to pick up the win.

Evie Stuck (So., RHP, Papillion, Neb.) earned the win for the Golden Eagles. She tossed a complete game, allowing just two earned runs on seven hits. Stuck struck out three and walked two.

Calley Olson suffered the loss after throwing four innings. She allowed three earned runs on five hits.

Minnesota Crookston obtained seven runs on seven hits. Garcia led the Golden Eagles going 2-of-3, with three RBIs and a run scored. Garcia hit a home run, and a triple. Sophie Juntunen (Fr., OF/1B, St. Michael, Minn.) went 1-of-2, with a run scored. Paige Shwaluk (Jr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) was 1-of-3, with two runs scored. Grant was 1-of-3, with two RBIs and a run scored. Curry went 1-of-2, with a run scored.

Minot State took the 1-0 advantage in the first when Brooklyn Morrison hit a sacrifice fly, plating Leo Watson. Chesie McLaughlin reached on an error later in the frame, bringing in Kelley to make it 2-0.

In the third, Paige Shwaluk scored on a wild pitch trimming the deficit to 2-1.

Minnesota Crookston scored four runs in the fourth. Garcia powered the ball over the left field fence for a home run, scoring her, and Juntunen. Grant hit a home run later in the frame, scoring her, and Zarn.

In the fifth, Avalos reached on an error, bringing in Paige Shwaluk. Later in the frame, a Garcia groundout scored Curry to extend the lead to 7-2.

Minot State cut the lead to 7-3 when Watson reached on a bunt and Smith scored on an error. Hannah Murray scored when Minnesota Crookston threw out Watson on a stolen base attempt. The Beavers picked up a double from Izzy Penne  but weren't able to bring her around as Stuck secured the final out.

Minnesota Crookston heads to Wayne State College Saturday, April 22 at 12 and 2 p.m., in Wayne, Neb.