The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team ran into a tough Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bear team and was swept 11-3 and 13-8 in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader played in Crookston.
GAME 1 –
UMC jumped out to an early lead with a Rachel Jones (Fresh. Fort Collins, CO) solo home run for a 1-0 lead.
Concordia-St. Paul got things going in the top of the third inning with a lead off single and after a fielder’s choice, the Golden Bears had a bunt single. After a pop out, for the second out of the inning, Concordia-St. Paul singled to score a run to tie the game at 1-1. The next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Another single scored two more runs for a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the fourth inning, Concordia-St. Paul singled, but the baserunner was caught stealing at second base. The next batter grounded out for the second out of the inning. Once again, errors and wild pitching hurt UMC as the next Golden Bear batter was hit by a pitch. The next batter reached on an error before a single to score a run for a 4-1 lead. After a UMC pitching change, the next batter reached on another UMC error and another run scored. The next batter tripled to score two runs for a 7-1 lead. The next batter reached on the third UMC error of the inning and another run scored for an 8-1 lead.
UMC answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. Alina Avalos (Soph. Riverside, CA) singled to lead off the inning. Hannah Hatfield (Fresh. Olathe, Kan) and Cassie Querry (Sr. Cassville, PA) both walked to load the bases with nobody out. The next batter grounded out, but a run scored to bring UMC within an 8-2 deficit. UMC tried to steal second base and was thrown out, but on the throw to second Hatfield scored to bring the Golden Eagles within an 8-3 deficit.
Concordia-St. Paul responded with three runs in the top of the fifth inning. After a leadoff groundout, the next batter reached on a single. After another out, the wheels fell off with wild pitching again. The next batter was hit by a pitch, which was followed by a double to score two runs for a 9-3 lead. The next batter singled to score two runs for an 11-3 lead.
UMC wasn’t able to score in the bottom of the fifth inning and Concordia-St. Paul won the game 11-3 after the game was called because of the 8-run rule.
GAME TWO –
Concordia-St. Paul didn’t waste any time as they started the game with a single, walk, and after a strikeout a double for a 2-0 lead. The next batter hit a two-run homerun for a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, Concordia-St. Paul added a few more runs. After a groundout, they had back-to-back bunt singles which was followed by a double to score two runs for a 6-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning, the Golden Bears started with a single. After a flyout, they followed with a single to score a run. After two wild pitches, the next batter reached on a fielder’s choice and that was followed by another single to score a run for an 8-0 lead.
UMC finally got on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After a groundout, Shaelyn Grant (Fresh. Grand Junction, CO) singled, Jones walked. and Jordan Peterson (Jr. Lakeville) reached on a fielder’s choice and the Golden Eagles had runners at first and third. Avalos followed with a blast over the centerfield fence for a three-run homerun to get within an 8-3 deficit. Dana Zarn (Soph. Winnipeg, Manitoba) followed with a great at bat. She had a three-ball count and after a strike she fouled the next pitch off for a full-count. She blasted the next pitch over the left field fence for a solo homerun and UMC trailed 8-4.
Concordia-St. Paul responded in the top of the fourth inning with a lead off walk, a fielder’s choice followed by a single to load the bases. The next batter doubled to score two runs. The next batter grounded out and a run scored. After a walk, the Golden Bears had another single for a 12-4 lead.
UMC got back into the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jones led off with a walk. J. Peterson singled and Avalos walked to load the bases. A run scored on a wild pitch, Zarn singled to score a run to get within a 12-6 deficit. Querry was hit by a pitch before Hatfield singled to score a run. After a pitching change, Velasquez singled to score another run to get within a 12-8 deficit.
Concordia-St. Paul added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning with a leadoff walk, a fielder’s choice and a double for a 13-8 lead.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion and lost 13-8.
UMC drops to 8-26 on the year 4-16 in the NSIC and will travel to Mankato on Sunday. Concordia-St. Paul improves to 19-15 overall and 13-7 in the NSIC.
