Sioux Center, Iowa – Concordia-St. Paul used a lot of offense on Sunday afternoon to sweep Minnesota Crookston in NSIC softball action, 9-1 and 10-2.
It was the NSIC opener for both the Golden Eagles and Golden Bears.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 7-19 (0-2 NSIC).
Game One
The Golden Bears would strike first in the bottom of the first inning with a three run home run off the bat of Danni Sharum for a 3-0 lead.
Sharum would give CSP a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second with a sacrifice fly.
The Golden Bears would eventually lead 6-0, but
Haley Koch (R-Jr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) would hit her first home run of the season to cut into the Golden Bear deficit.
CSP would score three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to put the run rule into effect for the 9-1 win in five innings.
The Golden Eagles would collect six hits in the game, including one apiece from the top three hitters in their order;
Paige Shwaluk (Sr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba),
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) and
Rayna French (Fr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) each collected a hit. Koch,
Reagan Emerick (R-Jr., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) and
Maddie Shwaluk (Sr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) also collected a hit on the day, as well.
In the circle,
Thayda Houser (Sr., P, Seymour, Iowa) went 3.0 innings and gave up six runs on eight hits and fell to 1-6 on the season.
Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) went 1.1 innings of relief and gave up three runs, all of which were earned.
Game Two
Game two would see a similar pattern in the opening game, except in game two, the Golden Bears would score seven runs in the bottom of the first to jump on the Golden Eagles for a 7-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles would get one right back as
Shaelyn Grant (Sr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.) would hit her sixth home run of the season to chip away at the CSP lead.
The Golden Bears would answer with a run in the bottom of the second for an 8-1 lead.
Koch would continue her solid day at the plate by doubling in Grant, making it 8-2 in favor of the Golden Bears.
The Golden Bears would score two runs in the bottom of the fourth, which would mean the Golden Eagles would need at least a run in the fifth to keep the game alive.
The maroon and gold would go down in order and the Golden Bears would win, 10-2.
Minnesota Crookston finished with four hits in the game, including a pair from Grant and a hit each from Koch and
Emilee Haggadone (So., C, Lincoln, Neb.).
Kailee Pollard (Jr., P, Marshalltown, Iowa) earned the start and gave up seven runs, all of which were earned, on six hits.
Evie Stuck (Jr., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.) pitched the rest of the way and gave up three runs on six hits.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will stay in Sioux Center to play a doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State tomorrow. First pitch with the Mustangs is set for noon on Monday.
