MINOT STATE SWEEPS UMC SOFTBALL IN NSIC DOUBLE-DIP

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team was swept by the Minot State Beavers 9-1 and 13-12 in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader played in Minot, North Dakota. 

GAME ONE-
The Minot State Beavers cruised to a 9-1 victory in the first game of the doubleheader.
Minot State started the scoring in the bottom of the first inning after the leadoff batter reached on an error, the next batter walked and two runs scored on another UMC error for a 2-0 lead.  Another single knocked in another run and Minot State led 3-0 after the first inning.  
UMC answered with a run in the top of the first inning with three straight singles to load the bases and a run scored when Samantha Proctor walked to bring UMC within a 3-1 deficit. 
Minot State added two more runs in the bottom of the third inning with three singles for a 5-1 lead. 
Minot State added three more runs in the fourth inning with two singles and a double to score to runs followed by another single to score the eighth run of the game for an 8-1 lead. 
Minot State won the game in the sixth inning with a two-out triple followed by a single to win the game 9-1 in six innings. 

For UMC – 
Maggie Morales – 2-3
Rocky Bjorge – 2-3, run

GAME TWO-
Minot State scored five runs in the final two innings to beat the UMC Golden Eagles in the second game of the doubleheader 13-12 to complete the sweep. 
UMC started the scoring with a leadoff walk, a fielders choice and a Rocky Bjorge single to score the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead. 
UMC had a big inning in the top of the second inning with a leadoff home run by Darian Pancirov and later in the inning, Mikaela Rodriguez hit a three-run home run to give UMC a 5-0 lead.  Minot State answered with four runs in the bottom of the second inning to cut UMC’s lead down to 5-4.
Minot State added four more runs behind six hits in the bottom of the third inning for an 8-5 lead. 
UMC regained the lead with a four-run fourth inning with two singles followed by a wild pitch to score a run and a Hannah Macias double knocked in another run before Rocky Bjorge hit a double to score two more runs for a 9-8 UMC lead.  The Golden Eagles continued to swing some hot bats with three more runs in the top of the fifth inning when Mikaela Rodriguez hit a bases-loaded double to score three runs for a 12-8 lead.
Minot State answered with three runs behind four hits in the sixth inning to cut UMC’s lead to 12-11.  Minot State finished off the come from behind victory with two runs in the seventh inning on four hits and a costly UMC error and the Beavers won the game 13-12 in walk-off fashion.

UMC drops to 13-37 overall and 2-20 in the NSIC and will wrap up their season this weekend when they host Augustana and Wayne State.  Minot State improves to 24-19 on the year.

For UMC –
Rocky Bjorge – 4-4, 3 rbi
Haley Strachan – 2-4, 3 runs
Mikaela Rodriguez – 2-3, 6 rbi’s, 3 runs