UMC SOFTBALL SWEPT IN DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST SMSU

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Softball team was unable to capitalize on a pair of late-inning rallies as the Golden Eagles dropped two games to Southwest Minnesota State 12-4 in game one and 2-1 in game two in an NSIC doubleheader played on the turf of Mattke Field in Marshall, Minnesota. 

GAME ONE – Southwest Minnesota State struck first plating two runs in the opening frame. A lead-off single followed by a triple into center field gave the Mustangs their first run of the game. An RBI single concluded the first inning scoring as SMSU took a 2-0 lead out of the first inning. Leah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) singled up the middle with one out in the top of the third inning sparking Minnesota Crookston’s offense. A walk issued to Malia Pula (Jr. Gilroy, CA) moved runners to first and second base before Rocky Bjorge (Sr., Prior Lake) singled scoring Macias and Pula while advancing to second and then third base on an error. A pair of fly outs stranded Bjorge, but Minnesota Crookston still managed to tie the game at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the third inning. Southwest Minnesota State regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning loading the bases before a line drive up the middle scored two Mustang runners pushing SMSU in front 4-2 after four innings of play. Hannah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) led off the top of the fifth inning reaching on an error by SMSU’s third baseman before Malia Pula tripled down the left field line plating Macias and bringing the Golden Eagles back within 4-3. With Pula on third base, Rocky Bjorge delivered another timely hit sending a double into centerfield as Pula scored from third base tying the game at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning. SMSU regained the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. With runners on first and second base and two outs in the inning, an SMSU plated three runs with a pair of hits into right field giving the hosts a 7-4. The two-out rally continued with a single into right field plating another run before an infield single kept the bases loaded while plating the fifth run of the inning putting Southwest Minnesota State in front 9-4. A two-RBI single into center field followed by another RBI base-hit, all with two outs in the inning, closed out the six-inning run-rule victory for SMSU 12-4. 

G1	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
UMC	0	0	2	0	2	0	4	8	1
SMSU	2	0	0	2	0	8	12	15	2

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Taylor Graven – UMC	4.0	7	4	4	2	2
Mikayla Jones – UMC	1.2	8	8	8	2	4

For UMC
Malia Pula – 2-2, 2 RBI, 2 runs. 2B
Rocky Bjorge – 2-3, RBI, 2 runs, 2B
Haley Strachan – 2-3

 

GAME TWO – Southwest Minnesota State plated the first run of the game on a fielder’s choice scoring a runner from third base to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. In the top of the fifth inning, Samantha Proctor (Jr., Champlin) singled up the middle before Tavia Lawson (Soph., Hawley) entered at first base as a pinch runner. Lawson advanced to second base on a wild pitch before a Hannah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) singled to put runners on the corners with one out in the inning. After a lineout, Leah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) reached on a fielder’s choice in which all runners were safe as Lawson scored from third base tying the game at 1-1 after five innings. The game remained tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning. In the final inning, Southwest Minnesota State began the frame with a single before a hit into centerfield scored the game-winning run as the Mustangs walked off with a 2-1 victory in the bottom of the seventh.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 12-18 on the year and 1-5 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles return to the diamond on Wednesday when UMC hosts Minnesota Duluth for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Southwest Minnesota State improves to 11-7 overall and 6-0 in conference play. 

G2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
UMC	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	8	1
SMSU	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	2	9	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Paige Pitlick – UMC	6.1	9	2	2	2	6

For UMC
Haley Strachan   2-4
Hannah Macias   2-3
Malia Pula   1-3, 2B