Winter Haven, Fla. – Minnesota Crookston softball pitched well and played in a couple of low scoring games on the first day of the Spring Games in Florida, but lost a pair to Thomas More University, 3-0 and Ashland University, 2-0.
The Golden Eagles fall to 2-14 on the season.
Game One
The Golden Eagles would go scoreless in the first inning, but they would have an opportunity to score
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) after the junior drew a walk and stole second, but was stranded at second.
The Saints would strike for a pair of runs, using a double and a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead early in the game.
Both teams wouldn't cross home in the second and the third innings, but the Saints would score another run on a Golden Eagle error, taking a 3-0 lead.
Minnesota Crookston would try and mount a rally in the top of the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles would start out the inning with a
Rayna French (Fr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) leadoff single.
Haley Koch (Jr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) would then single to left field to put a pair of runners on with one out. The Golden Eagles would get both French and Koch to second and third, but that's as far as they would get, as the Golden Eagles would fall 3-0.
Minnesota Crookston would finish with four hits in the game, led by a 3-3 day from Koch. French would finish with the other base hit for the Golden Eagles. Minnesota Crookston would leave seven runners on base in the game.
Thayda Houser (Sr., P, Seymour, Iowa) would pick up the loss to fall to 0-4 on the season after going 4.0 innings and giving up three runs on four hits.
Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) would come on in relief of Houser and give up just one hit in 2.0 innings of work.
Game Two
Game two would also be a low scoring affair. In fact, the game would see one less run scored than in game one.
Both teams would not cross home plate in the first two innings, but Ashland would strike for a pair of runs on an RBI single and an error, allowing Delaney Maynard to move to third. Maynard would score one hitter later on an RBI groundout.
The Golden Eagles would go down scoreless in the middle innings, but would mount a threat in the bottom of the fifth. Koch would get things started with a single to right field.
Sophie Juntunen (So., 1B/OF, St. Michael, Minn.) would reach on an error with two outs.
Maddie Shwaluk (Sr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) would hit the ball hard, but line out to second, ending the Golden Eagle threat.
The game would stay 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh. French would once again start out the inning with a single and she would later advance on a wild pitch. The Golden Eagles would be unable to score French as they would fall by a pair, 2-0.
The Golden Eagles would finish with four hits in the game, led by
Paige Shwaluk (Sr., IF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) and her 2-3 day. French and Koch would each collect a hit in the game.
Gracelynn Kelly (So., P, Black Hawk, S.D.) was outstanding in the circle, giving up just six hits in six innings, while striking out four hitters in the game.
Kailee Pollard (Jr., P, Marshalltown, Iowa) would pitch a scoreless inning in the top of the seventh.
What's Next
The Golden Eagles will be back in action tomorrow morning for another pair of games against College of Staten Island at 9 A.M. and Southern New Hampshire University at 11:30 A.M.
