Branson, Mo. – Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) hit a walk-off single in the second game on opening day for the Golden Eagles, as they split the first day of the Branson Lead-Off Classic, falling in a high-scoring affair to East Central University, 10-8 and came back to defeat Northwestern Oklahoma State, 2-1.
It's the first win for head coach
Ashton Sangster in her career.
Minnesota Crookston moves to 1-1 on the season.
Game One
The first game would see the Golden Eagles strike first, as
Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba) would drive in
Jocelyn Hernandez (Fr., OF, Tracy, Calif.) with a two-out double.
East Central would knot the game up in the bottom of the first, but Hernandez would reach on an error in the top of the second, scoring
Emilee Haggadone (Jr., C, Lincoln, Neb.) and regaining a one run lead at 2-1.
The bottom of the second inning would be a nightmare for the Golden Eagles, allowing seven runs, as the Tigers would take a six-run lead.
The Golden Eagles would answer in a massive way in the fourth.
Whitnee Curry (Sr., MIF, Lincoln, Neb.) would build off her fantastic 2024, driving in a pair of runs, cutting the lead in half. French would reach on an error one batter later, scoring Hernandez, making it an 8-5 game.
Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) would collect the first hit of her career, scoring a pair of runs with a single to center field.
Doering would later score and tie the game up on a Tiger error.
The Tigers would score a run in the fourth and fifth, which would turn out to be enough for the 10-8 win.
The Golden Eagles outhit the Tigers 9-5 and they were led by French and Curry, who each finished with a hit. Doering, Hernandez,
Emerson Thompson (R-Jr., C, Lincoln, Neb.) and
Sophie Juntunen (Jr., 1B/OF, St. Michael, Minn.) would also collect a hit in the game.
Riley Blake (Fr., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) earned her first career start and gave up six earned runs on just two hits, while pitching an inning.
Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) picked up the loss in the circle, giving up a pair of runs, both of which were earned.
Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P/OF, Stevens Point, Wis.) was fantastic in her collegiate debut, giving up just two runs on one hit allowed, while striking out five hitters. The Golden Eagles walked 12 Tiger hitters.
Game Two
Game two would be the exact opposite of game one.
Neither team would score in the first three innings, but the Golden Eagles would strike first on an
Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) RBI single, scoring Doering.
The Rangers would strike back in the next half inning and tie the game up at one.
In the top of the seventh, the Golden Eagles and
Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) would pull a magic act and get out of a second and third with one out jam, sending the game to the bottom of the inning, still tied at one.
It wouldn't take long for the maroon and gold to win it in the seventh. Spencer would reach on an error and advance to second on the error. One batter later, Koch would win the game for the Golden Eagles with a single to center field.
The Golden Eagles finished with six hits in the game, as six different hitters had a hit.
The story was Dombrowski. The junior from Indiana tied her career-high by going seven innings and striking out eight hitters, also tying her career watermark. Dombrowski walked just two batters and moved to 1-0 on the young season.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will be back in action tomorrow afternoon for another doubleheader with Arkansas Tech at 2 P.M., and Upper Iowa in the nightcap at 4 P.M.
