The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team traveled to Duluth to take on the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs and lost both games while getting no-hit in the first game 8-0 in five innings and lost game two 9-2.
GAME ONE
FIRST INNING
The first UMC batter struck out before Whitnee Curry (Jr. Lincoln, Neb) walked for the first baserunner of the game. The next two batters were retired, and the Golden Eagles stranded a runner on base.
Duluth’s first two batters were retired before a triple and a double scored a run, and the Bulldogs led 1-0 after the first inning.
SECOND INNING –
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion. In the bottom of the inning, Duluth singled, and after an out, the next batter reached on a fielder’s choice that got the out at second base. Two singles later, Duluth scored another run for a 2-0 lead.
THIRD INNING –
The first two UMC batters were retired before Paige Schwaluk (Sr. Portage La Prairie, Manitoba) walked, but she was stranded at first base after the next batter struck out.
Duluth’s leadoff batter reached on an error, the next batter walked, and runners were at first and second base with nobody out. The next three Bulldog’s were retired, and Duluth led 2-0.
FOURTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion. In the bottom of the inning, Duluth’s first batter struck out, the next reached on an error before a walk. After another Bulldog out, the next batter was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single and an error allowed three runs to score before a double added another run for a 6-0 lead. The next Bulldog hitter blasted a two-run home run for an 8-0 lead.
FIFTH INNING –
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the third time in five innings, and Duluth won the game by the run rule for an 8-0 victory.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Duluth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | – | – | – | 8 | 8 | 0 |
For UMC-
No hits
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alex Guilford – UMC | 2.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Evie Stuck – UMC (LP) | 2.0 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Lauren Dixon – UMD (WP) | 5.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 |
GAME TWO –
FIRST INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the first inning.
Duluth led off the bottom of the inning with a double, and after the next two batters retired, they scored a run on a single for a 1-0 lead.
SECOND INNING
French singled to start the inning. After an out, Reagan Emerick (Jr. Macomb, Ill) reached on a fielder’s choice, and French was out at second base. Irelyn Spencer (Fresh. Rapid City, SD) singled, and Ruth Freiberg (Soph. Hopkins) doubled to score two runs, and UMC led 2-1.
Duluth countered in the bottom of the inning after the leadoff batter reached on an error. The next batter popped up before a walk. The next Bulldog batter doubled to score a run to tie the game at 2-2. A flyout gave Duluth a 3-2 lead, and back-to-back-to-back singles gave them a 5-2 lead. A UMC wild pitch allowed the Bulldogs to score another run for a 6-2 lead.
THIRD INNING
UMC’s Curry singled with one out and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. French singled, but the next batter popped out, and the Golden Eagle threat was over.
Duluth had a one-out single for the next two batters, who were retired, and the Bulldogs held on to a 6-2 lead.
FOURTH INNING
The first two UMC batters were retired before Freiberg walked, and Maddie Shwaluk (Sr. Portage La Prairie, Manitoba) was hit by a pitch. The next batter struck out, and UMC came up empty.
Duluth started the bottom of the inning with a double, a walk, and a flyout before they hit a home run to take a 9-2 lead.
FIFTH INNING
UMC had another threat as Curry, Haley Koch (Jr. Mondamin, IA), and Rayna French (Fresh. La Salle, Manitoba) walked to load the bases without anybody out. The next batter struck out, and Emerick reached on a fielder’s choice as Duluth elected to get out at home. The next batter flew out, and UMC came up empty.
Duluth was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning.
SIXTH INNING
Freiberg started the inning with a single before the next three batters were retired.
The Bulldog leadoff hitter reached on an error, the fifth one of the day on UMC. The next three batters were retired and the Bulldogs took a 9-2 lead into the final inning.
SEVENTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion, and the Bulldogs won 9-2 to complete the sweep.
UMC drops to 9-29 overall and 2-12 in the NSIC and will host Wayne State on Saturday and Augustana on Sunday. Duluth improves to 27-12 overall and 8-6 in the NSIC.
GAME TWO BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| UMC | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
| Duluth | 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | 9 | 9 | 0 |
For UMC-
Ruth Freiberg – 2 for 2
Rayna French – 2 for 3, walk
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Thayda Houser – UMC | 2.0 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Alexa Guilford – UMC Kailee Pollard – UMC |
2.0 2.0 |
3 0 |
3 0 |
3 0 |
1 0 |
2 0 |
| Alyssa Williams – UMD | 5.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Allison Luoma – UMD | 2.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
