Aberdeen, S.D. -- The Minnesota Crookston softball pitching staff surrendered 15 walks in two games on Friday afternoon in Aberdeen, allowing the Wolves to sweep the Golden Eagles in a twin bill in the Aberdeen Dome. NSU won the first game 3-2 and then walked 13 times in game two to take game two, 9-3.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 9-26 overall and 3-7 in the NSIC.
Game One
The Golden Eagles would go to their best pitcher of the season in Charlotte Dombrowski (Sr., P, Valparaiso, Ind.) and she would pitch a clean first and second inning, but would surrender a solo home run in the top of the third.
NSU would get another run in the fifth on another solo shot to take a 2-0 lead.
The Golden Eagles would tie the game on a single by Emily Kalina (Fr., OF, Rice Lake, Wis.) and an error by the Wolves, which would score both Madisen Yandle (So., SS, Lakeville, Minn.) and Valerie VanZant (Fr., IF, Salina, Kan.). The Golden Eagles would leave both Kalina and Jocelyn Hernandez (So., OF, Tracy, Calif.) on the bases and we would head to the sixth tied at two.
In the sixth, the Wolves would score a run on an error by the Golden Eagles and take a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Golden Eagles would load the bases and Kalina would drive a ball to deep center field, but Hailey Cota would make a nice grab to keep the Wolves in front.
The Wolves would close the door on their first conference win of the season, 3-2.
Kalina led the way with two more hits, leading the Golden Eagles, who had seven hits on the day. The Golden Eagles left seven runners on the basepaths.
Dombrowski was really good once again in the circle, going the distance and giving up three runs, two of which were earned. The senior falls to 4-3 on the season.
Game Two
The Wolves would use erratic pitching from the Golden Eagles early on to take a 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in the second and third innings.
The Golden Eagles would answer back with a triple by Rayna French (Jr., C, La Salle, Manitoba), scoring Kalina and Yandle to cut the deficit in half. French would be left at third.
The Wolves would answer with another run in the fourth, but Riley Blake (So., P/OF, Las Vegas, Nev.) would drive in a run on an infield single, scoring Ruth Freiberg (Sr., OF, Hopkins, Minn.).
The Wolves would score the game's next four runs, which would be more than enough in the 9-3 win.
The Golden Eagles matched the Wolves total with six hits, led by three from French, which was a season high.
What's Next
Minnesota Crookston will look to salvage the weekend tomorrow afternoon in Jamestown against the Jimmies. The Golden Eagles will be the home team for both games.
