Branson, Mo. – For the second straight night, Minnesota Crookston softball walked-off game two to earn a split on Saturday afternoon after falling to Arkansas Tech, 12-0 and coming back from down four runs to walk-off Upper Iowa, 6-5.
Minnesota Crookston moves to 2-2 on the season.
Game One
The opening game of Saturday wouldn't go the Golden Eagles way from the first pitch.
Arkansas Tech would strike for multiple runs in the first three innings, including a five run third to defeat the Golden Eagles in five innings.
Minnesota Crookston finished with five hits, led by their all-conference performer,
Whitnee Curry (Sr., MIF, Lincoln, Neb.), who finished 2-2 on the day.
Jocelyn Hernandez (Fr., OF, Tracy, Calif.),
Riley Blake (Fr., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) and
Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba) each finished with a hit in the game.
Evie Stuck (Sr., P, Papillion, Neb.) fell to 0-1 on the year, after giving up four hits and five earned runs.
Kailee Pollard (Sr., P, Marshalltown, Iowa) and
Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P, Stevens Point, Wis.) finished the game for the maroon and gold.
Game Two
The second game would see a very similar trend as to game one, but the youthful Golden Eagles would slowly but surely chip away.
Upper Iowa would move out to a 4-0 lead, including three in the first and a run in the second.
Finally, in the sixth inning, the Golden Eagle bats would come alive.
Trzinski would get the party started by driving in
Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.), cutting the Peacock lead to 4-1. Trzinski and
Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) would later come in to score on a
Sophie Juntunen (Jr., 1B, St. Michael, Minn.) two-RBI single.
The Peacocks would hold a one run lead heading into the seventh and they would add an insurance run in the top half.
In the bottom of the seventh, Hernandez would ground out, but Curry and Blake would reach base with one out. Spencer would come through with a blooper to right field, driving in Blake and
Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) would score on an advancement by Spencer.
One pitch later,
Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) would single to left, putting runners on first and third with one out. Still with one out, Trzinski would single on a full count, scoring Spencer and winning the game for the Golden Eagles.
Yandle and Trzinski led the offensive charge, finishing with a pair of hits in the game. Spencer scored a pair of runs and picked up a hit off the bench. Juntunen and
Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) each added a hit, as well.
In the circle,
Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P, Twin Falls, Idaho) was solid, earning her first win of her career. McMurdie went the distance, allowing five runs on 11 hits, while striking out a career-high four hitters.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will close out the Lead-Off Classic with two more games tomorrow morning, starting with Maryville University at 9:15 A.M., and Emporia State following the game with Maryville.
