The Crookston Pirate Softball team exploded with two 5-run innings, including a walkoff grand slam by Emily Bowman on Senior and Parent Celebration day, winning 13-3 in 6 innings over the Norman County East/Ulen Hitterdall Titans at KROX Radio Stadium.
FIRST INNING-
The Titans got a two-out single from Izzy Ruud in the 1st inning, but Emily Bowman recorded two strikeouts and a popout to conclude a quick first inning.
After a leadoff strikeout, Madi Bruggeman got things going with a double. Then Rilynn Aubol tripled her home to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Aubol would then score on a passed ball to put the Pirates up 2-0. The Pirates would also get a walk from Peyton Demerais, but a groundout would end the inning, keeping the lead at 2-0.
SECOND INNING-
The Titans looked to get things going in the 2nd inning, this time with a leadoff walk. After a passed ball got Olivia Thies to second base, back-to-back groundouts brought her home, cutting the lead down to 2-1. Another walk kept the inning alive, but a groundout ended the inning, keeping the score at 2-1 Pirates.
The Pirates got a two-out walk from Ally Wagner, but two strikeouts and a groundout ended the inning for Crookston.
THIRD INNING –
After two quick outs started the top of the 3rd inning, a base hit for Izzy Ruud gave the Titans some life in the 3rd. Then, Emmy Engen singled, but Ruud was thrown out at second by Aubol in left field to end the inning.
A single and a double led off the inning for the Pirates, putting runners on second and third. After an out, a passed ball would score Bruggeman at third to make it 3-1. Aubol, however, would be out at home trying to score on the same wild pitch, and a groundout would end the inning.
FOURTH INNING-
The Titans led off the 4th inning with a walk and a base hit, putting two runners on with no one out. However, Bowman stepped up and delivered clutch pitching, getting a flyout, groundout and popout to end the inning.
Crookston would explode for runs in the 4th. After a groundout, Wagner would double. After a passed ball, an RBI single by Bowman made it 4-1. The, after Bowman reached second on a passed ball, an error scored her, making it 5-1. After an Aubol single, Kambelle Freije hit a sacrifice fly to put the Pirates up 6-1. Then, back-to-back RBI singles by Demerais and Shyuh Burnette put the Pirates up 8-1 as the 4th inning came to an end.
FIFTH INNING-
A single and an error got runners on the corners for the Titans with nobody out to start the 5th. Bowman would then get back-to-back strikeouts, but the second one was dropped by Freije behind the plate, and when she threw out the runner at first, Makenzi Juarez scored from third to cut the lead to 8-2. Then, a dropped ball by Bruggeman at short cut the lead to 8-3, which would stick as the inning ended.
After a strikeout, an error and a walk put runners on second and first with one out. However, clutch Titan pitching induced a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning, keeping the game at 8-3.
SIXTH INNING-
The Titans led off the 6th inning with a single, and an error on a fielder’s choice put two Titans on with one away. Another fielder’s choice got two outs, and Bowman then got a popout to end the inning.
The Pirates led off the inning with a walk and an error, but two outs seemed like the rally would end. However, Leia Parkin would walk to load the bases, Wagner would then walk in a run to make it 9-3, and Bowman would end the game in dramatic fashion, hitting a grand slam to left field to walk off the Titans by run rule, winning 13-3 in 6 innings.
Crookston improves to 6-11 on the season.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E | |
| Crookston | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 13 | 10 | 3 |
| NCE/UH | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 6 |
OFFENSIVE LEADERS –
Crookston –
Emily Bowman – 2 for 4, HR, 5 RBI, BB
Rilynn Aubol – 3 for 4, 3B, 2B, RBI
Madi Bruggeman – 2 for 4, RBI, 3 R
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB/HBP | K |
| Emily Bowman-Crox | 6.0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 |
| Olivia Thies – NCE/UH | 5.2 | 10 | 13 | 2 | 8 | 7 |
