The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles Softball team lost to the St. Cloud State Huskies 8-3 and 8-0 in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader played at the Husky Dome in St. Cloud.
GAME ONE –
FIRST INNING
It was a slow start for the Golden Eagles, as their first three batters were all retired. UMC pitcher Delaney Pinner did not surrender a run in the bottom of the inning, as she walked one batter and struck out two more. St. Cloud State’s Reese Holzhueter, who was walked, stole a base and used a sac-fly to make it to third. Pinner’s final strikeout of the inning left Holzheuter as the lone Husky on base.
SECOND INNING
The top of the second yielded better results for UMC, as Irelyn Spencer was walked, and Whitney Curry singled to center field. They would both be left on base after two Golden Eagles struck out and another grounded out. The Huskies started building momentum on offense when Sidney Roe was hit by a pitch. She was brought in by a Bree Beck single. Two more Huskies scored in the inning on a 2-RBI single from Hulzheuter to make it 3-0 St. Cloud State.
THIRD INNING
The top of the inning was another 1-2-3 retirement for the Golden Eagles. The Huskies were able to load the bases with a Roe single and two walks, but UMC was spared by a fly out, which kept the score at 3-0.
FOURTH INNING
The Golden Eagles made solid contact with the bat, but it was a fly out and two ground outs to end the top of the inning for UMC. In the bottom of the inning, UMC went to Evie Stuck at pitcher, and she helped keep the score at 3-0.
FIFTH INNING
UMC started to get into a grove after Bryanna Decker singled and advanced to second on an error. Decker advanced to third after a sac bunt from Curry. A sac fly from Hailey Koch brought Decker home and made the score 3-1, and a line out moments later closed the half-inning. The Golden Eagles committed three errors in the bottom of the inning, one of which led to a St. Cloud State run and put the score at 6-1. The Golden Eagles tightened up to end the half inning, and left one of the Huskies on second and keeping the score at 6-1.
SIXTH INNING
UMC was unable to replicate the offensive success of the fifth inning, as the next three Golden Eagles were quickly retired. St. Cloud State continued to increase their lead with an RBI triple from Bethany Weiss, which scored Brooke Holmes and made the score 7-1. Homes was brought home on the next at-bat to make it 8-1.
SEVENTH INNING
UMC was down big but finished strong. Hannah Trzinski was walked, and Sophie Juntuenen made it to base on a pitching error. With one out on the board, Curry hit an RBI single to score Trzinski, and a Koch double into right-center scored Juntuenen. The final out of the game was recorded at home, giving St. Cloud State the 8-3 win.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 |
| SCSU | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | – | 8 | 9 | 2 |
For UMC-
Whitnee Curry – 2 for 2
Bryanna Decker – 1 for 2
Haley Koch – 1 for 2
Jocelyn Hernandez – 1 for 3
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Delaney Pinner (L) – UMC | 3.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| Evie Stuck – UMC | 3.0 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Macey Clark (W) – SCSU | 6.0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Justyce Porter – SCSU | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
GAME TWO –
FIRST INNING
UMC’s offense had little success early, with the only sign of life coming from a Curry walk. Chayse Doering and Rayna French both struck out, and a groundout from Hannah Trzinski ended the half-inning. The Huskies continued riding their momentum from game one, as they scored seven runs in the bottom of the inning. An RBI double started the inning for St. Cloud State. UMC then decided to put Riley Blake on the mound in relief of Evie Stout. A Husky RBI single with one out put the St. Cloud State up by 2, and a third run from the Huskies made it 3-0. Moments later, St. Cloud State’s Bree Beck hit a 2-RBI-double to center to make it 5-0. Another 2-RBI-double to left field made it 7-0 for the Huskies, and a fly out ended the inning,
SECOND INNING
UMC started the top of the inning with a single from Madisen Yandle, but the next three Golden Eagles were retired by strikeout. The Golden Eagles turned to Alexa Guilford to pitch in the second inning. UMC showed signs of improvement as they surrendered just one hit and forced a double play to end the inning.
THIRD INNING
UMC started the third with a groundout, but Doering singled on the next at bat. French made it to second base for UMC on an error moments later, and Doering advanced to third. The Golden Eagles could not capitalize on the runners in scoring position, as the top of the inning was ended on a fly out. The Huskies were also held scoreless in the inning, with a key strikeout stranding St. Cloud State’s Morgan Honeycutt on third and keeping the score at 7-0.
FOURTH INNING
UMC’s Irelyn Spencer, Sophine Juntunen, and Yandle had ground outs to quickly end the top of the inning. It was the same story for St. Cloud State, as three consecutive ground outs ended the inning.
FIFTH INNING
UMC’s Jocelyn Hernandez singled into left field with one out in the inning, but outs from Doering and Curry would end the top of the fifth. The Huskies had a great start to the bottom of the inning, as pinch runner Hannah Harms made it to third on a couple wild pitches. She was forced out on the way home after a fielder’s choice bunt, but runners remained on both first and second. A walk moments later loaded the bases for St. Cloud State. An RBI walk from St. Cloud State’s Bree Beck made it 8-0 and ended the game by mercy rule.
UMC drops to 13-20 on the season. The Golden Eagles will play another doubleheader on Saturday at the University of Sioux Falls.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| SCSU | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
For UMC-
Chayse Doering – 1 for 3
Madisen Yandle – 1 for 2
Jocelyn Hernandez – 1 for 2
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Riley Blake (L) – UMC | 0.2 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
| Evie Stuck – UMC | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Alexa Guilford – UMC | 4.0 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| Emma Eickhoff (W) -SCSU | 5.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
