Crookston, Minn. - Minnesota Crookston Softball closed out their home slate for the season today as they welcomed in Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears made some big plays today to improve their position in the NSIC standings, moving to 15-11 and sweeping the Golden Eagles with wins of 7-0 and 5-1.
The Golden Eagles fall to 14-37 overall.
Game one
The first inning was a quick one, with the Golden Bears getting two hits with five batters, and the Golden Eagles having one hit with four batters. Neither team scored.
The second inning saw the first scoring plays of the day, as Nora Brandt scored on an Emmy Bowne single down the right line. Lily Burke was next at bat and she hit a single into center field, driving Gabby Martinez home to put the Golden Bears ahead 2-0.
The Golden Bears extended their lead to 4-0 in the second inning, thanks to Martinez hitting a sacrifice fly that sent Ashlyn Peterson home and Katie Klotz scoring on a wild pitch.
The final runs of the first game came in the fourth inning. Riley Rosenthal grounded out, allowing Alexis Monty to score, Klotz reached on an error that brought Ava Blake into home, and Nora Brandt lined out to Chayse Doering (So., OF, Shakopee, Minn.) in centerfield, which brought in Danni Sharum to go ahead 7-0.
The Golden Eagles had four hits in this game: Valerie VanZant (Fr., MIF, Salina, KS), Megan Surgenor (Fr., RHP/3B, Andover, Minn.), Chayse Doering, and Madeline Murray (So., C/3B, Abilene, KS.) each registered one hit.
Game two
The second game of the day also saw a scoreless first inning.
In the second inning, Tatum Dunlavy hit a double to bring Bryleigh Dana home for the 1-0 lead. The Golden Eagles registered one hit in the inning, but could not score.
The Golden Bears extended their lead in the third inning when Sharum hit a homerun with two runners on base, giving the Golden Bears a 4-0 lead. The Golden Eagles registered another hit but could not bring in a run.
The Golden Eagles did get on the scoreboard in game two today when Emily Kalina (Fr., CF/LHP, Rice Lake, Wis.) hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield, driving home Rayna French (Jr., C, La Salle, Manitoba) for the first score of the afternoon.
There were no other scores for either team until the seventh inning when Martinez hit a second home run for Concordia-St. Paul to regain the four run lead. The Golden Eagles would fall 5-1.
The Golden Eagles registered four hits in the game, Doering hit two, French hit one, and Murray hit one.
What's next
The Golden Eagles have one weekend left this season and will start off in Mankato to take on Minnesota State University, Mankato on Saturday at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. before they head to Winona and wrap up their season against Winona State University on Sunday at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
