Crookston, Minn. – On Senior Day, Minnesota Crookston did the best thing possible; sweep their opponent.
The Golden Eagles closed out their 2023 campaign by walking off on Southwest Minnesota State in game one, 6-5 on a
Whitnee Curry (So., IF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) single and mercy-ruling the Mustangs in game two, 12-4, in five innings.
Minnesota Crookston closes out their record-breaking season at 18-32 on the year and 6-19 in the NSIC.
Game One
The Mustangs would strike early for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, the Golden Eagles knotted the game on a Curry sacrifice fly, scoring
Paige Shwaluk (Jr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba).
The Golden Eagles would take a 2-1 lead on a
Reagan Emerick (R-So., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) RBI double. The Golden Eagles would double their lead when
Evie Stuck (So., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.) would single, scoring Emerick.
SMSU would get one back in the third.
In the fifth, the Golden Eagles would score a pair on the second home run in as many days from
Dana Zarn (Sr., IF, Winnipeg, Manitoba), this time a two-run shot for a 5-2 lead.
SMSU would answer for three runs in the sixth to tie the game up at five.
That is how the game would be heading into the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles would pitch a scoreless top of the seventh and would have a chance to win it in the bottom of the inning.
Paige Shwaluk would reach base on a hit by pitch and would gain second on a stolen base. The very next hitter, Curry would single up the middle, scoring Shwaluk, giving the Golden Eagles their first walk-off win at home this season.
The Golden Eagles would finish with eight hits, led by
Shaelyn Grant (Jr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) and her two hits. Seniors
Alina Avalos (Sr., IF, Riverside, Calif.) and Zarn would each collect a hit.
Paige Shwaluk continues to score runs, scoring two more runs in the opening game.
Stuck would get the start and give up four earned runs on 10 hits, striking out three.
Thayda Houser (Jr., P, Seymour, Iowa) earned the win in 1.2 innings of work, giving up just one hit. Houser is now 7-8 on the season.
Game Two
Game two would be dominated by the Golden Eagles.
The Golden Eagles would strike for seven first inning runs, using some Mustangs mistakes. The inning would be capped off by a
Maddie Shwaluk (Jr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) RBI groundout and a
Paige Shwaluk RBI single.
Leading 7-1, Curry and the Golden Eagles would continue to hit the ball. Curry would go deep to centerfield to continue her huge weekend and give the Golden Eagles an 8-1 lead.
SMSU would make it an 8-4 game, but Grant would hit a two-run home run and
Paige Shwaluk would end the game with an RBI double, scoring a run.
Paige Shwaluk would lead the 10 hit barrage with a 4-4 day with three RBI and a run scored. Curry would go 1-1 with three runs scored. Grant would also score a pair of runs.
Alexa Guilford earned the win, moving to 2-0 on the season, giving up four earned runs on four hits.
Charlotte Dombrowski (Fr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) came in and shut the door, pitching the last three innings and giving up just two hits.
THANK YOU SENIORS
The Golden Eagles honored three outstanding seniors this afternoon.
Gabriella Blomdahl (Sr., OF, Duluth, Minn.), Avalos and Zarn each played their final games this afternoon. Avalos goes down as the all-time doubles and runs scored leader in program history. Zarn finished her outstanding career tied for second in program history in career doubles.
