The Crookston Pirates Softball team could not overcome a slow start at the plate and a couple of mistakes as their rally comes up short against East Grand Forks (EGF) in a 7-5 loss on Senior Day. The Pirates three Seniors are Kenze Epema, Amber Cymbaluk, and Emma Boll.
Both teams went down 1-2-3 in the first inning.
In the second inning, the Green Wave got the scoring started. Hannah Jensen-Selnes reached second on an error and got to third on a wild pitch. She came in to score on a groundout to take a 1-0 lead.
EGF added on a couple of runs in the third inning. A lead off walk advanced to second on a wild pitch and came in to score on an error. After Ella Eggers got the first hit for either team with one out, a groundout brought in the second run of the inning.
The Green Wave got to more runs in the fourth inning. The first two batters were retired by Jenna Coauette before allowing two walks. An error on a throw to third trying to get the final out kept the inning going with the bases loaded. Kendra Emery took advantage with a two-RBI single to left field for the Green Wave.
Crookston was able to answer with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning to get on the board for the first time. “They showed that they have grown mentally. If you let the 5-0 lead get you down then it can be rough,” said Coach Bowman. After a one-out single from Amber Cymbaluk, the first hit for the Pirates, her courtesy runner was picked off for the second out. However, Jenna Coauette walked a couple of pitches later and Reese Swanson tripled to the right-center field gap to cut the deficit to 5-1. “She was kind of angry on after her first at-bat but then she came out and got it together,” said the Pirates Head Coach Sunny Bowman.
Coauette put up a zero in the top of the fifth and the Pirates got back into the scoring column in their half of the fifth. Aleah Bienek reached when she was hit by a pitch and Addie Fee walked, wild pitches moved them into scoring position. Then a two-out line drive single to left field by Kenze Epema brought in both runners to cut the EGF lead to 5-3. “We came out with a little less energy than normal so it took a while to get going,” explained Coach Bowman.
The Green Wave got both runs back in the sixth inning. Singles by Karlee Walsh and Kendra Emery both two runners on and both came into score on a double from Ella Eggers to make it 7-3. “
That remained the score heading into the bottom of the seventh with the Pirates needing four runs to tie and five runs to win. With one out, Addie Fee walked, Kenze Epema singled, and Amber Cymbaluk followed with a two-RBI single to cut the lead in half at 7-5. The Pirates had the tying run at the plate with one out, but were unable to get another runner on base as their comeback fell short and East Grand Forks won the game by a final score of 7-5. “I’m really proud of how they didn’t give up,” added Coach Bowman. “It would have been so easy for them at 5-0 to just be done and give up a big inning but that never happened.”
The Pirates fall to 4-13 on the season. The Pirates will travel to Fosston to play East Polk on Monday and will play at Sacred Heart on Tuesday. “We have a big game on Monday against East Polk that we are looking to keep on improving on past results,” added Coach Bowman. East Grand Forks improve to 7-9 this year and they will host Red Lake Falls on Monday.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| EGF | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 6 | 0 |
| CROOKSTON | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jenna Coauette- CROX | 7.0 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| Ella Eggers- EGF | 7.0 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 |
For CROOKSTON
Kenze Epema- 2 for 4, 2 RBI, run
Amber Cymbaluk- 3-4, 2 RBI
Reese Swanson- 1 for 4, RBI, triple
Addie Fee- 2 walks, 2 runs
For East Grand Forks
Kendra Emery- 2 for 4, 2 RBI, 2 runs
Ella Eggers- 2 for 4, 2 RBI, double
Karlee Walsh- 1 for 1, run
Ashlyn Veitz- 3 walks, 2 runs
