Winona, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston softball fought hard all 14 innings against perennial NSIC power, Winona State, but were swept by the Warriors, 4-1 and 2-1, which came in walk-off fashion.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 13-20 on the season.
Game One
The Warriors would jump out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a Carly Engelhardt solo shot to left field.
Minnesota Crookston would answer right back.
Reagan Emerick (R-So., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) would double down the left field line, scoring
Whitnee Curry (So., IF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) to tie the game up at one apiece.
WSU would answer with two runs in the second inning and then add on an insurance run in the sixth inning for the 4-1 victory.
Minnesota Crookston had five hits in the game, the third straight game with such numbers. Emerick finished with two, while both
Maddie Shwaluk (Jr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) and
Paige Shwaluk (Jr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) each had a hit, as did
Brittney Mengel (So., OF, Sullivan, Wis.). The Golden Eagles left six runners on base.
Charlotte Dombrowski (Fr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) pitched well for the Golden Eagles, giving up four earned runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of work, but she did fall to 2-5 on the year.
Alexa Guilford (Fr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) got the final two outs of the sixth inning in relief.
Game Two
Emerick would once again get the Golden Eagles on the board early. The redshirt sophomore would single to left field, scoring
Paige Shwaluk for an early 1-0 lead.
WSU would answer right back with a sacrifice fly from Engelhardt to knot the game up at one.
From that point on, the Golden Eagles and Warriors would have chances to take the lead, but the game would be tied at one heading into the seventh.
The Golden Eagles would be held scoreless in the seventh, which would allow the Warriors to walk-off the Golden Eagles, giving them a heartbreak walk-off loss for the second straight day.
Once again, Minnesota Crookston would finish with five hits.
Paige Shwaluk,
Kate Garcia (Fr., OF, Sylmar, Calif.) and Curry, who hit 1-2-3 in the order, would each collect a hit. Emerick and
Maddie Shwaluk each went 1-3.
Against one of the better offenses in the NSIC,
Thayda Houser was unbelievable. The junior went 6.2 innings of work, giving up just two earned runs on five hits, while not striking out a hitter.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston is set to play St. Cloud State on Tuesday for a doubleheader. Place is TBD.
