Crookston, Minn. -- Minnesota Crookston softball had a ton of fun on a windy Monday for their home opener with Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston collected 25 hits in two games on their way to a 9-1 win in game one and a 13-5 win in game two over Bemidji State.
It's the first sweep for the Golden Eagles over Bemidji State since 2012.
Minnesota Crookston improves to 13-32 (7-13 NSIC).
Game One
Bemidji State would score a run in the first inning after loading the bases for an early 1-0 lead.
BSU would pitch a scoreless bottom of the first inning, but that would be the only inning Minnesota Crookston wouldn't score.
Emily Kalina (Fr., OF, Rice Lake, Wis.) would get the scoring started with an RBI double, scoring Chayse Doering (So., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) and Hannah Trzinski (So., 1B/P, Stevens Point, Wis.) for a 2-1 advantage.
Later in the inning, Madisen Yandle would single through the left side, scoring Kalina and Ruth Freiberg (Sr., OF, Hopkins, Minn.).
The Golden Eagles would get a run in the third on a Freiberg RBI single.
In the fourth, the Golden Eagles would strike for four more runs, capped off by Doering's third home run of the season.
The Golden Eagles would hold the Beavers in the fifth for the mercy rule victory.
Minnesota Crookston pounded out 13 hits in the win, led by a career-high three from Freiberg and another three-hit performance from Doering. Freiberg, Doering and Yandle each drove in a pair of runs.
Charlotte Dombrowksi (Sr., P, Valparaiso, Ind.) was outstanding once again for the Golden Eagles, giving up just three hits and one earned run in five innings of work. Dombrowski moved to 6-7 with the win.
Game Two
Game two would see the Beavers jump all over Minnesota Crookston in the opening frame, taking an early 3-0 lead, using some two out hitting.
Minnesota Crookston would use some two out magic of their own in the bottom of the second. In fact, it took just one swing to give the Golden Eagles the lead. Kalina would connect for her first career grand slam, putting the Golden Eagles in front by a run.
It would be all Golden Eagles from there. Minnesota Crookston would score a run in the third and add four more in the bottom of the fourth, using a pair of doubles from Doering and Irelyn Spencer (R-Jr., IF, Rapid City, S.D.).
BSU would cut the lead in half and make it a 10-5 game, but the Golden Eagles would end the game in the sixth on Freiberg's first collegiate home run, a three-run shot.
Spencer was outstanding in the second game, leading the charge with a 4-4 performance with a pair of runs scored. Rayna French (Jr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) finished 2-4 with two runs scored. Kalina led the way with four RBI, while Freiberg finished with three and Doering added two more.
Riley Blake (So., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) moves to 1-3 in the circle, giving up just two earned runs on six hits.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston is back in action Wednesday afternoon for a road doubleheader at MSU Moorhead.
