UMC SOFTBALL DROPS TWO CLOSE GAMES AT MANKATO

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Softball team was swept by the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks 9-8 and 5-3 in a North Sun Conference double-header played in Mankato. 

GAME ONE –

FIRST INNING
UMC had a good start to the game with a Paige Shwaluk (Sr. Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) single. Whitnee Curry (Jr. Lincoln, Neb) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Shwaluk to second base. Rayna French (Fresh. La Salle, Manitoba) singled, and runners were at the corners with one out. The next batter struck out before Haley Koch (Jr. Mondomin, IA) reached on an error, and two runs scored on the play, and UMC took a 2-0 lead.
Mankato responded with a lead-off walk, a single, and a walk before a ground out to score a run. The next batter singled to score another run. Mankato singled two more times and scored another run for a 3-2 lead after one inning.

SECOND INNING
The first two UMC batters struck out before Maddie Shwaluk (Sr. Portage la Prairie, Manitoba) and Paige Shwaluk singled. The next Golden Eagle batter popped out, and the threat was over. Mankator singled and doubled for runners at second and third base with two outs before the next batter grounded out, and the Mavericks led 3-2 after two winnings.

THIRD INNING
UMC’s French led off with a single before the next three batters were retired. Mankato’s first two batters were retired, and after a walk, the next batter struck out, and the Mavericks led 3-2.

FOURTH INNING
UMC’s leadoff batter struck out, Reagan Emerick (Jr. Macomb, Ill) singled before the next two batters were retired. Mankato added two more runs in the bottom of the inning with three singles and two walks to take a 5-2 lead.

FIFTH INNING
UMC exploded in the fifth inning with a huge two-out rally. Curry led off with a single, and after a strike out, Shaelyn Grant (Sr. Grand Junction, CO) reached on a fielder’s choice that retired Curry. Koch hit a home run to bring UMC within a 5-4 deficit. Sophie Juntunen (Soph. St. Michael), Ruth Freiberg (Soph. Hopkins), and Emerick singled to score another run. Another run scored on a wild pitch, and on the same play, a run scored on an error, and UMC led 7-5. Maddie Shwaluk singled, and Paige Shwaluk was hit by a pitch before Curry singled to score another run for an 8-5 lead. Mankato had two walks and a single to load the bases before another single and two runs scored, and UMC’s lead was down to 8-7. 

SIXTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the inning. Mankato had a double in the bottom of the inning, but that is all they would get, and UMC led 8-7.

SEVENTH INNING
UMC had a big threat in the top of the inning with singles from Emerick and Maddie Shwaluk singled. Emerick was caught stealing before Paige Shwaluk walked. Curry walked to load the bases with two outs before the next batter grounded out to retire the Golden Eagles. Mankato led off the inning with a single, a groundout, and a fielder’s choice. The next batter doubled to score two runs and the Mavericks won the game 9-7.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE

For UMC-
Maddie Shwaluk – 3 for 3, run
Reagan Emetic – 3 for 4, run, rbi
Paige Shwaluk – 2 for 3, run, walk
Whitnee Curry – 2 for 3, rbi, walk
Rayna French – 2 for 5, run

GAME TWO –

FIRST INNING
UMC got things going in the first inning for the second straight game as Paige Shwaluk led off with a single, and after two outs, French singled to score a run, and the Golden Eagles led 1-0. Mankato answered in the bottom of the inning with a single. After two outs, they had another single to tie the game at 1-1.

SECOND INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the second inning. Mankato led off with another single. After a sacrifice bunt, Mankato singled in another run for a 2-1 lead.

THIRD INNING
With one out, Paige Shwaluk singled, Curry walked, but the next batter hit into a fielder’s choice and a strikeout. Mankato had two singles before a triple that scored two runs for a 4-1 lead.

FOURTH INNING
UMC got back on the board when Grant and Juntunen singled. After an out, Emerick singled to score a run and UMC trailed 4-2. In the bottom of the inning, Mankato led off with a solo homerun for a 5-2 lead.

FIFTH INNING
UMC continued to battle in the fifth inning with a Koch single, French reached on a fielder’s choice that retired Koch. Grant was hit by a pitch, and Juntunen singled to score a run to get within a 5-3 deficit. The first Mankato batter walked before the next three batters were retired, and the Mavericks led 5-3.

SIXTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the sixth inning. Mankato’s first two batters were walked and hit by a pitch. The next three batters were retired, and the score remained 5-3 going into the seventh inning.

SEVENTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the seventh inning, and Mankato won the game 5-3 to complete the sweep.

UMC drops to 9-27 overall and 2-10 in the NSIC and will be at Minnesota Duluth on Wednesday. Mankato improves to 32-8 on the year and 12-2 in the NSIC. 

GAME TWO BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.

For UMC-
Sophie Juntunen – 2 for 3, rbi
Paige Shwaluk- 2 for 4, run