Bismarck, N.D. -- Minnesota Crookston softball exploded for six runs in the top of the tenth inning in game number two against UMary, salvaging a split with UMary. Minnesota Crookston fell in game one, 2-0 and came back to win game two, 8-3.
Minnesota Crookston moves to 11-28 on the season and 5-9 in the NSIC.
Game One
Game one would be the ultimate pitching duel between Charlotte Dombrowski (Sr., P, Valparaiso, Ind.) and Elyssa Verploegen of UMary.
Neither team would have great chances to score in the game, until the sixth inning.
The Golden Eagles would get Emily Kalina (Fr., OF/P, Rice Lake, Wis.) on third with one out, but would be unable to bring her around.
UMary would strike for a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth, using a Golden Eagle error to score a pair to take a 2-0 lead heading into the seventh.
Chayse Doering (So., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) would hit her fifth triple of the season to lead off the seventh, but the Golden Eagles could not plate a run, falling 2-0.
The Golden Eagles mustered up four hits in the game and left five runners on base.
Dombrowski was outstanding in the circle yet again, but fell to 4-5 on the season. The senior gave up just two runs, neither were earned, on seven hits.
Game Two
Minnesota Crookston would look to bounce back in game two and they would get off to a fast start, as Sophie Juntunen (Sr., 1B, St. Michael, Minn.) would deliver a two RBI single for an early 2-0 lead.
UMary would get a run in the fourth to cut the lead to 2-1.
Offensively, the Golden Eagles would have chances to add on to their lead, but it would stay 2-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh.
UMary would tie the game on a bases loaded walk, but would strand the bases and we would head to extra innings for the first time in conference play for the Golden Eagles.
Neither team would score in the eighth and ninth innings.
The Golden Eagles would explode for a big inning in the 10th, all with two outs. Madeline Murray (So., C, Salina, Kan.) would deliver the go ahead hit with an RBI double the opposite way, scoring Juntunen all the way from first. Kalina would drive in a pair of runs for a 5-2 lead.
Kalina would later come around to score on a Rayna French (Jr., C/UT, La Salle, Manitoba) RBI single. The Golden Eagles would add another run for an 8-2 lead.
UMary would get one in the bottom of the inning, but that's all they would get, as Dombrowski would slam the door shut.
The Golden Eagles pounded out 15 hits, the most in conference play this season. French finished with three hits and two runs knocked in, while Kalina, Hannah Trzinski (So., 1B/P, Stevens Point, Wis.), Madisen Yandle (So., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) and Valerie VanZant (Fr., IF, Abilene, Kan.) each had two hits.
Riley Blake (So., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) was outstanding in her first start in a month, giving up two earned runs on four hits in 6.1 innings of work. Dombrowski earned the win after giving up just one earned run in 3.2 innings of work on three hits.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will continue their North Dakota trip for another doubleheader with Minot State.
