Viera, Fla. – Day one in Florida saw a pair of low scoring games for Golden Eagle softball, as the maroon and gold fell to Gannon to open the day and used a three-run sixth inning to defeat previously unbeaten, D'Youville, 4-1.
Minnesota Crookston moves to 6-11 on the year.
Game One
As the away team, Minnesota Crookston would put traffic on the bases early on, as
Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) and
Rayna French (So., C/OF, La Salle, Manitoba) would single and have runners on the corner, but would be unable to score.
Gannon would strike for a run in the bottom of the first.
The middle innings of the game would be brisk, as neither team would mount much of a threat.
The Knights would score a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth, as the rally would start with a two out walk.
The Golden Eagles would mount one base runner from the first inning on and would be unable to overcome the Knights.
The Golden Eagles mustered up just three hits, as Yandle and French would collect one, as would
Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.)
Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P/UT., Twin Falls, Idaho) earned the start and was solid, albeit in a loss. The freshman went three innings and struck out two and allowed just two hits.
Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) and
Evie Stuck (Sr., P/OF, Papillion, Neb.) came in for relief of McMurdie and combined to give up just three hits.
Game Two
The start of game two would start very similar to the middle part of game one, as neither team would score through two innings.
The Golden Eagles would get a run across in the bottom of the third, as Trzinski would lay down a gorgeous bunt and Yandle would fly home from second, giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The Saints would score a run in the sixth, tying the game at one.
Minnesota Crookston would get some timely hitting in the bottom of the sixth. It would be a two out rally in the bottom of the inning, allowing Yandle to single home a pair of runs in
Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) and
Jocelyn Hernandez (Fr., OF, Tracy, Calif.) to score and give the Golden Eagles the lead at 3-1.
Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) would come home to score on a wild pitch, giving the maroon and gold a three run lead heading into the final inning.
In the top of the seventh, Guilford would see the first two runners score, but wouldn't allow a run, giving the Golden Eagles their first win in the Sunshine State, 4-1.
Yandle led the offensive charge with three hits and a pair of RBI. French was 2-3 in the game. As a team, the Golden Eagles pounded out nine hits.
In the circle,
Delaney Penner (Fr., P/OF, Winkler, Manitoba) was outstanding in her first career appearance, giving up just four hits and an earned run in 5.1 innings of work.
Guilford earned both the win and the save in the game, picking up her second win and save in 1.2 innings of work.
What's Next
It's a quick turnaround for the maroon and gold, who will play two more on Tuesday against Jefferson (Pa.) and Ursuline College. First pitch is set for 9 A.M. (CT).
