CROOKSTON PIRATE SOFTBALL SWEEPS BAGLEY IN DOUBLEHEADER

The Crookston Pirate Softball team won their third and fourth game in a row as they swept a doubleheader by beating Bagley 17-9 and 27-4 in games played in Bagley.

GAME ONE
The Crookston Pirates scored seven runs in the sixth inning to break open the game on their way to a 17-9 victory over the Bagley Flyers in game one of a doubleheader played in Bagley.

It didn’t look good at the start of the game as the first two Pirate batters were retired, but Crookston had a two-out rally that started with a walk to Amber Cymbaluk. Jenna Coauette followed with a single through the left side of the infield, and runners were at first and second base. A wild pitch allowed the baserunners to advance to second and third base, and Reese Swanson smoked a ground ball through the left side of the infield to score two runs, and Crookston took a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Bagley’s first two batters were retired before Gracey Halvorson doubled, and Rachel Broten reached on a wild pinch when she struck out. The next batter lined out to left field, and Crookston kept their 2-0 lead.

Crookston was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the second inning.
Bagley had a big second inning, and it started with when Hanna Powell reached on an error with one out. Bagley scored six runs in the inning, taking advantage of four walks, three hits, and three Crookston errors to take a 6-2 lead.  “We made too many errors and it came back to hurt us in that inning,” said Pirate Coach Sunny Bowman.

Crookston had an answer in the top of the third inning when Addie Fee reached on an error, advanced to second on another error, and scored on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Amber Cymbaluk and Jenna Coauette walked, and Reese Swanson singled in a run to bring Crookston within a 6-4 deficit. Coauette stole second base on a pickoff attempt at first base, and Reese Swanson singled to score a run to tie the game at 6-6.  “Our bats started out a little slow, but they finally caught up to the pitcher and we got a bunch of hits,” said Coach Bowman. “We had some smarter at-bats and that was good to see.”

Bagley regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when the leadoff batter reached on an error. Rachel Broten and Allie Dalrymple singled to load the bases. After a strikeout, Hanna Powell singled to score a run, K.Lynch singled to score another run. Brooke Erickson drew her third walk of the game with bases loaded to score a run, and Bagley took a 9-6 lead.

Crookston answered with three runs in the fifth inning with a lead-off single from Swanson, Boll reached on a walk, and Bowman singled to score a run. After a Pirate strikeout, Alex Luna singled to score two more runs, and the Pirates tied the game at 9-9. Luna’s hit was her first-ever varsity hit.  “It was fun to see Alex get the big hit for her first hit and also score two runs,” said Coach Bowman. “She hit the ball well and good for her.”

Crookston had their best offensive inning in the top of the sixth inning when they scored seven runs. Cymbaluk and Coauette reached on walks, and Swanson singled to score a run. Coauette scored on an error. Luna singled in a run, followed by Addie Fee’s double to score two more runs. Another run scored on an error and the seventh run scored on a bases load walk to Coauette for a 16-9 lead.  “If we make contact good things happen,” said Coach Bowman. 

Crookston added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Bowman singled, advanced to third on one wild pitch, and scored on an error for a 17-9 lead.
Bagley had a threat going in the bottom of the seventh inning with runners at second and third base with nobody out when a Flyer batter hit a line drive back to Coauette for an out, and she quickly threw to third base and got the runner on third for a double play. The next batter flew out to left field, and Crookston won the game 17-9. 

Crookston improves to 3-12 on the year and will take on Bagley in the second game of the doubleheader. Bagley drops to 1-11 on the year.

For CROOKSTON
Reese Swanson – 4 for 5, 4 rbi, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases
Alex Luna – 2 for 5, 3 rbi, run (first varsity hits)
Emily Bowman – 2 for 5, 2 runs, walk

For Bagley
K. Lynch – 2 for 2, rbi
Rachel Broten – 4 for 5, 2 rbi, 2 runs

GAME TWO
Crookston had another great start to the game when they scored five runs in the first inning.  Emily Tate reached with one out, and Amber Cymbaluk singled.  After the second out of the inning, the Pirates Reese Swanson tripled to score two runs for a 2-0 lead.  Emma Boll with a walk.  Dani Kresl, Emily Bowman, and Aleah Bienek walked to score two more runs and another run scored on a wild pitch for a 5-0 lead. “It was a good start with some big hits,” said Coach Bowman. “The girls came out swinging and hit the ball hard.”
Bagley responded with a run in the bottom of the inning on a ground out to get within a 5-1 deficit. 

Crookston answered with some more runs in the top of the second inning when Tate and Cymbaluk reached, and Jenna Coauette walked to load the bases.  Reese Swanson hit a ground ball, and Bagley tried to get them out at home, but the throw wasn’t in time and a run scored.  With bases still loaded, three runs scored on three separate wild pitches, and Crookston had a 9-1 lead.  Kresl reached on a walk and came around to score on wild pitches for a 10-1 lead.  Bienek was hit by a pitch and advanced to third base on wild pitches.  Addie Fee hit a line drive to right field off the edge of the second baseman’s glove to score a run for an 11-1 lead.  Tate and Cymbaluk walked to load the bases.  Coauette smashed a line drive to centerfield to score two runs, and Swanson followed with a double to score two more runs for a 15-1 lead. Swanson came into score on a wild pitch, and Crookston led 16-1.

Bagley scored three runs in the bottom of the third inning after a leadoff triple and a single to get things going, and the Flyers trailed 16-4.  

Crookston blew the game open by scoring 11 runs while sending 17 batters to the plate in the inning to take a 27-4 lead.  Emily Tate and Emma Boll had two hits each in the inning, 
Bagley didn’t score in the bottom of the inning, and Crookston won the game 27-4 by the 15-run mercy rule after four innings.  “We hit the ball well, and everybody throughout the lineup was hitting, and that was great to see,” said Coach Bowman.  “The pitchers in the second game were throwing a little slower, and we took advantage of it, and it was good to see everybody doing well.”

Crookston improves to 4-12 on the year and will play East Grand Forks on Friday.  Bagley drops to 1-12 on the year.

For CROOKSTON
Reese Swanson – 4 for 5, 5 runs
Emily Tate – 4 for 5, 5 runs