Crookston, Minn. – Northern State used outstanding pitching and timely hitting to sweep Minnesota Crookston in NSIC softball action on Sunday afternoon. NSU swept the Golden Eagles, 7-1 and 4-3, spoiling senior day for the maroon and gold.
Minnesota Crookston finishes the season at 14-38 and 7-21 in the NSIC, the most conference wins in program history.
Game One
On senior day, why not start your ace and senior in both games?
Thayda Houser would earn the start in both games one and two, pitching a scoreless top of the first inning.
NSU would break the scoring with a double and a pair of RBI singles, for a 4-0 lead.
The big swing would come off the bat of Liv Richardson, who would hit a three-run home run off of
Alexa Guilford (So., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) for a 7-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles would try and mount a rally,
Maddie Shwaluk (Sr., OF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) would single in her sister,
Paige Shwaluk (Sr., MIF, Portage la Prairie, Manitoba), cutting into the deficit.
Maddie Shwaluk advanced to third on an error.
That would be the last time either team would score, as the Golden Eagles would scatter eight hits, but wouldn't be able to chip away at the lead, as the Wolves would win game one by a touchdown.
Senior
Reagan Emerick (Sr., MIF, Macomb, Ill.) finished with two hits, while
Maddie Shwaluk and
Paige Shwaluk each had a hit in their penultimate game as a Golden Eagle. The Golden Eagles left seven runners on base.
Houser went two innings, giving up four runs on five hits, while walking a pair. Guilford went five innings in relief of Houser.
Game Two
NSU would once again strike first in the top of the first.
After
Paige Shwaluk walked,
Maddie Shwaluk would once again drive in her sister on an RBI groundout, tying the game at one.
The Golden Eagles would strike for a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. Birttney Mengel (Jr., OF, Sullivan, Wis.) would drive in a run with an RBI single and
Maddie Shwaluk would drive in Mengel with a double to left center.
The lead wouldn't last long, as the Wolves would get four hits in the top of the third, tying the game up at three.
The game would be tied heading into the sixth. NSU would get a two-out double to score the go ahead run.
That RBI double would turn out to be the winning run, as the Wolves would shut down the Golden Eagle bats for the 4-3 season ending win.
Maddie Shwaluk went 2-4 in the two hole for the Golden Eagles and was the leader in the six-hit attack for the hometown nine. Mengel,
Paige Shwaluk,
Haley Koch (Jr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) and
Whitnee Curry (Jr., MIF/OF, Lincoln, Neb.) each finished the game with a hit. The Golden Eagles left seven runners on the base paths.
Houser went the distance for the Golden Eagles, closing the season with a 6-15 record. The senior gave up four earned runs on nine hits, while striking out five.
Thank You Seniors
Today was the final games for five outstanding seniors:
Paige Shwaluk,
Maddie Shwaluk,
Reagan Emerick,
Thayda Houser and
Shaelyn Grant (`Sr., C/OF, Grand Junction, Colo.). They helped the Golden Eagles reach new heights and we wish them the best of luck in their future endeavors.
