Viera, Fla. – Minnesota Crookston wrapped-up their trip to sunshine with a pair of games on Sunday against Southern Connecticut State and UT-Dallas, a school transitioning to Division II.
 
Minnesota Crookston had traffic on the bases in the later stages of game one, but the Owls of Southern Connecticut State used early runs to defeat the Golden Eagles.
 
In game two, the Golden Eagles won another extra-inning affair, as the Golden Eagles held off UT-Dallas in eight innings.
 
The Golden Eagles improve to 12-15 on the year.
 
Their games on Sunday were the 11^th and 12^th games in six days for the maroon and gold.
 
Game One
The Owls and Golden Eagles would see a scoreless first inning, but the Owls would score the games' first run with a sacrifice fly.
 
Trailing 2-0 in the bottom of the third, the Golden Eagles would get a lead-off single from Whitnee Curry (Sr., IF, Lincoln, Neb.), but would be unable to bring her past second, keeping the game at 2-0.
 
In the top of the fourth, Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) would walk a pair of runners, but she would also strike out the side, keeping the game within a pair of runs.
 
Now trailing 3-0, Minnesota Crookston would look for some offense. Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) would lead off the inning by working a walk and Bryanna Decker (Fr., C/OF, Roseville, Calif.) would reach on an error by the pitcher. Curry would lay down a fantastic sacrifice bunt and Jocelyn Hernandez (Fr., OF, Tracy, Calif.) would drive in Spencer on a groundout.
 
In the sixth, the Golden Eagles would load the bases with a pair of hits from Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) and Rayna French (So., C/OF, La Salle, Manitoba), but would be unable to score.
 
The Golden Eagles finished with four hits and left five runners on the base paths in the game.
 
Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P/UT, Twin Falls, Idaho) pitched well earning the start, but fell to 3-2 on the year, after giving up two earned runs and three hits. Guilford came on in relief for the third straight game and gave up just one earned run on two hits in four innings of work.
 
Game Two
The second game of the day and final game at the Space Coast Games would be a pitching duel through the first three innings.
 
Minnesota Crookston would finally breakthrough in the fourth inning, as they would load the bases with nobody out and would score a run on a sacrifice fly from Curry, scoring Hannah Tzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.), giving the maroon and gold a 1-0 lead. The Golden Eagles would leave a pair of runners on in the fourth.
 
Delaney Penner (Fr., P/OF, Winkler, Manitoba) continued to spin the ball well in the circle, allowing just two hits and no runs through five innings against the Comets.
 
In the sixth, with the Golden Eagles leading by a run, Trzinski and Decker would each single, but would be stranded at second and third.
 
The Comets would finally get to Penner and use a double and a single in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game up at one.
 
The game would be delayed for about an hour due to lightning in the area, but Penner would force a groundout to third and we would head to the seventh tied at one.
 
In the bottom of the seventh, the Comets would get a runner on with a hit by pitch, but Emerson Thompson (R-Jr., C, Lincoln, Neb.) would throw out a runner trying to steal second. For the second straight day, the Golden Eagles would head to extra innings.
 
With two outs in the eighth, Curry would come through in the clutch and lace a single up the middle, driving in Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) and Spencer.
 
Those runs would be enough for the stellar Penner, who slammed the door on the Comets and moved to 3-0 on the season with her second complete game.
 
Minnesota Crookston finished with six hits, but Curry was the offense for the Golden Eagles, driving in all three runs.
 
Penner tossed another gem. The freshman went the distance, eight innings and gave up just one earned run on four hits, while striking out six.
 
What's Next
After a 7-5 record in Florida, the Golden Eagles kick off the conference season next weekend as they host Southwest Minnesota State for a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch is set for 12 P.M., against the Mustangs.