The Crookston Pirate Softball team scored the first run of the game, but the Thief River Falls Prowlers answered with the final 14 runs on their way to a 14-1 victory in five innings in a Section 8AA matchup in Thief River Falls.
Crookston had a great start to the game. With one out, Kenze Epema hit the ball down the left-field line, and when it landed chalk actually popped up and Epema had a stand-up double. Epema advanced to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
Thief River Falls responded in a big way in the bottom of the first inning. Abby Molstad started the game with a single and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Maizy Kraemer followed with a single and Molstad scored to tie the game at 1-1. After a Prowler strikeout, Alanah Mack singled and the Pirate centerfielder booted the ball to allow another run to score on the error. The next batter lined out to first base. Mack scored on an error on the catcher to give the Prowlers a 3-1 lead. TRF’s Nicole Dennis walked and Gabby Steele hit a line drive to leftfield and the Pirates dropped the ball. Haylie Rogalla, the Prowler pitcher, helped her cause with a ground-rule double after her line drive to left-center field rolled under the fence and one run scored. Jacey Novak singled to score two more runs and Thief River Falls led 6-1 after one inning.
In the top for the second inning, all three Crookston batters struck out for a 1-2-3 inning.
In the bottom of the inning, Thief River Falls go things going when Paige Green walked and Mack singled. After a line out to the shortstop, Dennis singled to load the bases. Gabby Steele hit a line drive to centerfield and the Pirates had the ball go off the glove for another error and three runs scored on the play for a 9-1 lead. Rogalla followed with a single to score another run for a 10-1 lead after two innings.
In the top of the third inning, two of Crookston’s three outs were by strikeout as Rogalla was in a groove.
Thief River Falls added three more runs in the bottom of the third inning. Mack tripled and came into score on a Merysa Neadeau single. Dennis reached on an error, Steele hit another line drive to a Pirate outfielder and it was dropped to allow a run to score and Rogalla grounded out to score another run for a 13-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Molstad started with a single and advanced to second base on a wild pitch, and advanced to third base on another wild pitch. Green singled and another run scored for a 14-1 lead after four innings.
Crookston needed at least four runs in the top of the fifth inning to keep the game going. Emma Boll started the inning with a walk, but the next three batters were retired and Thief River Falls held on for a 14-1 victory.
Crookston drops to 0-6 on the year and will host Norman County East/Ulen Hitterdahl on Friday. Thief River Falls improves to 6-0 on the season.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
CROOKSTON | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
Thief River Falls | 6 | 4 | 3 | 1 | – | 14 | 12 | 1 |
Pitching | IP | H | R | BB | K |
Jenna Coauette – Crox | 4 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
Haylie Rogalla – TRF | 5 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
For CROOKSTON
Kenze Epema – 1 for 3, run
Amber Cymbaluk – 1-3
For Thief River Falls
Alanah Mack – 3 for 4, 3 runs, rbi
Haylie Rogalla – 2 for 3, 3 rbi, run
Abby Molstad – 2 for 4, 2 runs