Winter Haven, Fla. – Minnesota Crookston wrapped-up their trip to the state of Florida with a pair of games on Sunday against Saint Michael's College and The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown.
The Golden Eagles made a late charge in game one against the Purple Knights, but fell in a tight, one run ball game, 8-7.
In game two, the Golden Eagles would strike for three runs in the sixth inning to cap off yet another come from behind victory, this time, defeating the Mountain Lions of the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, 6-4.
Minnesota Crookston goes .500 on their Florida trip and moves to 7-17 on the season.
Game One
The Purple Knights, who were originally supposed to be the second and final opponent for the Golden Eagles in Florida, would get off to a fast start in the bottom of the first.
Saint Michael's would strike for six runs in the bottom half of the first inning and looked like they were ready to run away with the game.
The Golden Eagles said not so fast. The Golden Eagles would get a one out rally started from
Paige Shwaluk (Sr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba), who would single.
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) would single and
Shaelyn Grant (Sr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) would walk to load the bases.
The Golden Eagles would strike for one on a wild pitch and
Rayna French (Fr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) would walk to reload the bases.
Brittney Mengel (Jr., OF, Sullivan, Wis.) would hit an infield single and just like that, it was 6-3.
Haley Koch (Jr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) would walk, allowing another Golden Eagle run to score. The Purple Knights would change pitchers, but it wouldn't matter, as
Alison Ulrich (So., OF, Anchorage, AK) would walk in a run and
Reagan Emerick (R-Jr., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) would add another run with an RBI single.
A pair of big innings by both squads would make the game 6-5 heading into the fourth.
Saint Michael's would add on two more runs with a home run to straightaway centerfield, regaining a three run advantage.
8-5 would be the score heading into the top of the seventh inning.
Emerson Thompson (R-So., C, Lincoln, Neb.) would work a walk and would later score on a two run home run off the bat of
Charlotte Dombrowski (So., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.), making it 8-7. The Dombrowski home run was the first off the bat by a Golden Eagle in Florida.
Needing more base runners,
Maddie Shwaluk (Sr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) would hit a blistering line drive to the third baseman, but it would be caught. The Purple Knights would get the next out to end the rally by the Golden Eagles.
Minnesota Crookston was led offensively by Curry and her two hits, as the Golden Eagles finished with eight hits in the game. The Golden Eagles left nine runners on the basepaths.
In the circle for the Golden Eagles,
Gracelynn Kelly (So., P, Black Hawk, S.D.) picked up the loss, falling to 0-3 on the season.
Kailee Pollard (Jr., P, Marshalltown, Iowa) and
Thayda Houser (Sr., P, Seymour, Iowa) each came in for relief and were both outstanding, combining to go seven innings and allowing nine hits.
Game Two
The Golden Eagles would see themselves trailing early, but they would score two in the bottom of the first inning, both of which came on a Grant single, scoring
Paige Shwaluk and Curry.
The Mountain Lions would tie it in the second, only to see their lead evaporate quickly in the bottom half. Curry would single in
Paige Shwaluk, taking a 3-2 lead.
UPJ would eventually take their first lead in the top of the third inning.
The score would stay at 4-3 heading into the sixth. Again, it was a late sixth inning rally for the maroon and gold.
Sophie Juntunen (So., 1B, St. Michael, Minn.) would reach on an error and would be pinch ran for by
Irelyn Spencer (R-Fr., IF, Rapid City, S.D.). Spencer would eventually come in to score the tying run on a single from Curry.
Curry would then steal second on the next batter and the throw from the Mountain Lions catcher would find itself in centerfield, allowing
Maddie Shwaluk to score the go ahead run. The Golden Eagles would add one more in the bottom of the sixth for a two run lead heading into the seventh inning.
Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) would slam the door on the Mountain Lions and pick up her third win in Florida for the Golden Eagles.
The maroon and gold would collect 12 hits as a team, one shy of their season-high.
Paige Shwaluk would go 3-3 with two runs scored and Curry would go 3-4, also with a pair of runs scored. French collected a pair of knocks, as well. Curry and Grant each drove in a pair of runs in the game.
Dombrowski earned the start and went 2.0 innings, while giving up four runs on five hits. Guilford picked up the win, moving to 3-3 on the year, while not allowing a run and striking out five in five innings of work.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will be back in action in a week and a half to kick off conference play. The Golden Eagles will head to Concordia-St. Paul for a doubleheader on March 23.
