Crookston, Minn. – Minnesota Crookston softball set two more records on Saturday afternoon in a split with Minot State. With their game one win over the Beavers, Minnesota Crookston won their fifth straight NSIC game, a new school record and earned their eighth win in the Northern Sun, also the most in program history. The win also brought the Golden Eagles to 20 wins in the NSIC, the first time the Golden Eagles reached that mark.
The Golden Eagles improved to 20-29 (8-14 NSIC). That should set up a thrilling final weekend, as the Golden Eagles have four more NSIC games left and are one game behind Sioux Falls for the final team in the NSIC Tournament.
Game One
The Beavers would strike first in the first, as they would score a run on an infield single.
Much like they have all season, the Golden Eagles would answer back.
Haley Koch (Sr., C, Mondamin, Iowa), playing in her final home game, would deliver a two RBI single, scoring
Rayna French (So., C/OF, La Salle, Manitoba) and
Riley Blake (Fr., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.).
In the fourth, the Beavers would hit back-to-back homeruns and they would take a brief one run lead.
Once again, the Golden Eagles would answer, all with a pair of outs.
Bryanna Decker (Fr., C/OF, Roseville, Calif.) would go the other way and drive in
Irelyn Spencer (R-So., IF, Rapid City, S.D.), who started the rally with a walk.
The big swing in the fifth would come off the bat of
Gabrielle Gomez (Fr., P/1B, Lakewood, Calif.), who would deliver a massive two out double, scoring Koch and Decker.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Golden Eagles would add an insurance run, as
Chayse Doering (Fr., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) would lead off the inning with a triple and eventually come across to score.
In the seventh,
Evie Stuck (Sr., P, Papillion, Neb.) would slam the door shut for the 6-3 win.
Minnesota Crookston finished with 11 hits, led by a pair from Koch and
Whitnee Curry (Sr., IF, Lincoln, Neb.). Koch and Gomez each added a pair of RBI, as well.
Alexa Guilford (Jr., P, Crystal City, Manitoba) would earn the start and give up three earned runs in three innings of work. Stuck would earn her third win of the weekend, not giving up a run in four innings of work.
Game Two
Minnesota Crookston would go for their first ever sweep of Minot State in the second game.
Unfortunately for the Golden Eagles, the Beavers would score a pair in the second and then one run in both the fifth and sixth innings.
The Golden Eagles wouldn't fly quietly into the night, however. In the sixth, the Golden Eagles would have first and third with just one out, but would be unable to score.
The Golden Eagles would try to mount a rally in the seventh. With two outs, Blake would lace a double to the wall, scoring Doering and cutting the lead to just three. One batter later, Curry would single up the middle, allowing Blake to score and getting the tying run to the plate. The Beavers would get the final out of the game, winning 4-2.
Minnesota Crookston had eight different hitters finish with one hit each, for a team total of eight. They out-hit the Beavers in both games. Minnesota Crookston left seven runners on the base paths.
Delaney Penner (Fr., P, Winkler, Manitoba) fell to 6-7 in the circle, but she was solid. The freshman gave up four earned runs, while striking out five in six innings of work.
Sydney McMurdie (Fr., P/UT, Twin Falls, Idaho) didn't give up a hit in an inning of work.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will have a non-conference doubleheader before their big final weekend in NSIC play, as the maroon and gold will head to Grand Forks to take on the University of North Dakota in a doubleheader on Wednesday night.
