Marshall, Minn. – In their 'home' and conference opener in 2025, Minnesota Crookston softball was back on the road against Southwest Minnesota State for a doubleheader. The Golden Eagles were the home team in Marshall.
 
In the opening game, SMSU jumped out early to a 7-0 lead, but the Golden Eagles would score eight of the game's next 10 runs, but ultimately fell to the Mustangs by a run, 9-8.
 
Game two would go the way of the Golden Eagles, who would use a Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) inside-the-park home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat the Mustangs and earn the split, 6-5.
 
Minnesota Crookston improves to 13-16 (1-1 NSIC).
 
Game One
SMSU would jump on the Golden Eagles early on, scoring five runs off of Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P/UT, Twin Falls, Idaho) and a pair of runs off of Charlotte Dombrowski (Jr., P/OF, Valparaiso, Ind.) for an early 7-0 lead.
 
Much like they have done a majority of the year, the Golden Eagles would start and chip away. The Golden Eagles would load the bases and would score a run on a Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa) sacrifice fly.
 
The Mustangs would answer for two more in the third inning, taking an eight run lead heading into the third.
 
Madisen Yandle (Fr., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) would score one of her two runs scored in the game on a wild pitch and Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.) would drive in Rayna French (So., C, La Salle, Manitoba) to cut the deficit to 9-3.
 
The big inning would come in the fourth inning, all with a pair of outs. French would reach on an error, scoring a pair of runs. One batter later, Hannah Trzinski (Fr., P/1B, Stevens Point, Wis.) would continue her stellar freshman season, driving in two on a single to right field.
 
Trzinski would score on an error, cutting the lead to just one at 9-8.
 
Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, that would be the last run they would score, falling by a run.
 
The Golden Eagles had three hits, led by a pair from Trzinski. It's the eighth multi-hit game of the young career for Trzinski. She also scored a pair of runs, as did French and Yandle. The Golden Eagles did draw eight walks in the box, as well.
 
Dombrowski was spectacular in relief, going six innings, giving up just two earned runs and six hits.
 
Game Two
After taking game one, the Mustangs would pounce early and score a run for a 1-0 lead.
 
The Golden Eagles would knot the score up at one, as Doering would reach on a sacrifice bunt and an error by the third baseman, scoring Koch.
 
Another error in the same inning would allow the Golden Eagles to take a 2-1 lead, as Doering would score.
 
SMSU would tie the game up on a RBI double in the top of the fourth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Spencer would lace a line drive double to center field, as Yandle would come around to score from second. One batter later, the Golden Eagles would double their lead, as Trzinski would score on a catcher's interference off the bat of Bryanna Decker (Fr., C/OF, Roseville, Calif.). It was determined the catcher impeded the progress of Trzinski, giving the Golden Eagles their fourth run of the game.
 
Spencer would come around to score on a fielder's choice by Koch.
 
SMSU would answer for two runs in the sixth, but Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Calif.) would get out of a jam and preserve a one run lead.
 
In the bottom of the sixth, Doering would hit the ball to center field and the ball would get past the centerfielder and roll all the way to the wall, allowing Doering to fly all the way around the bases and give the Golden Eagles an important insurance run.
 
SMSU would score one run in the seventh, but it wouldn't be enough, as Guilford would slam the door and pick up her third save.
 
Minnesota Crookston finished with six hits, led by Spencer, who went 2-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. Doering finished with a hit and two runs scored.
 
Delaney Penner (Fr., P, Winkler, Manitoba) moved to 4-0 on the season, going 5.1 innings, allowing four runs, just one of which were earned.
 
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will look to finish the weekend strong, as they will play Concordia-St. Paul for a doubleheader in Roseville, Minn. First pitch in the doubleheader is set for 12 P.M.