The UMC Golden Eagles softball team got an outstanding pitching performance and a big home run from a couple of their Seniors as they got a 4-1 win in game one of a doubleheader with Minot State. In game two, UMC had a furious rally late to tie the game, but Minot State was able to pull away for a 9-7 victory as the teams split the final two games of the regular season.
GAME ONE –
The game stayed scoreless until the bottom of the second when the Golden Eagles got on the board. Dana Zarn (So. Winnipeg, Manitoba) doubled to start the inning and Hannah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) singled and stole second after trying to get in a rundown to put two runners in scoring position. After Zarn and Macias got out of another hectic rundown, a walk loaded the bases and Hailey Hatfield (Fresh. Olathe, KA) brought in a run on a groundout. “We knew from the get-go you have to outscore Minot because they are going to hit. They are a good hitting team,” said Golden Eagles Head Coach Travis Owen.
Minot State was able to manufacture a run in the top of the fourth to tie the game. With one out, an error allowed a runner to reach first. She stole second, and advanced to third on a groundout, and came in to score on an infield chopper for a base hit.
UMC answered back in the bottom of the inning to take back the lead. Hannah Macias and Alina Avalos (So. Riverside, CA) hit consecutive singles with one out. Then, Cassie Querry (Sr. Cassville, PA) hit a three-run home run for the second consecutive day to give the Golden Eagles a 4-1 lead through four innings. “She has a lot of power,” added Coach Owen.Â
Both teams had good chances to score in the fifth inning. Minot State had runners at second and third and UMC had the bases loaded, but each team grounded out to end their scoring threats.
Katie Humhej (Sr. Surrey, British Columbia) finished off her brilliant day, and final start of her career, in the circle with two more scoreless innings, including a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Humhej went the complete seven innings, allowing just the one unearned run on just four hits and one walk, and she recorded seven strikeouts to lead the Golden Eagles to the 4-1 victory in game one of the doubleheader. “She did great. Really cool to see her finish her final start with a win against a really good hitting Minot team,” said Coach Owen.
FOR THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Minot State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| UMC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | X | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Katie Humhej- UMC | 7.0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Trinity Valentine- Minot State | 5.0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| Erica Hermanson- Minot State | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
For University of Minnesota Crookston
Cassie Querry- 2 for 2, home run, 3 RBI, run
Hannah Macias- 2 for 2, run
Shaelyn Grant, Alina Avalos, Dana Zarn, Jordan Peterson- 1 hit each
For Minot State
Jamie Odlum- 2 for 3, double
Gabi Dawyduk- 1 for 3, RBI
Maggie Mercer- 1 for 3
GAME TWO –
Minot State got off to a good start in the second game as they got two runs in the first inning. The Beavers got a one-out double and a two-out home run to right field to take the 2-0 lead.
UMC got consecutive base hits from Jordan Peterson (Jr. Lakeville) and Querry with two outs but were unable to score in the inning as the game remained at 2-0 after one.
The Beavers added onto their lead in the third with three more runs. A bunt single led off the inning and the next batter doubled her in to make it 3-0. After a passed ball, another base hit brought in the runner from third. UMC made a pitching change and after they got an out, a groundout brought in another run to cap the scoring in the inning and leave the Beavers with a 5-0 lead.
Minot State got back into the scoring column in the fourth inning. A leadoff walk stole second and got to third on a groundout. A single to the pitcher, a wild pitch, and a groundout to the pitcher followed and yet the Beavers had not scored in the inning as the two runners remained in scoring position with two outs. However, they were able to get them home on a single with two outs that increased their lead to 7-0.
Again, UMC got two base hits in the inning, this time from Avalos and Gabby Blomdahl (So. Duluth), but a groundout ended their chances of scoring in the fourth.
In the fifth inning, the Golden Eagles’ offense came alive as they scored seven runs in the inning to tie the game. Zarn, Sarah Velasquez (Fresh. Chino, CA), and Peterson were the first three batters and they all singled to load the bases. Querry was next and she hit a grand slam for her second homer of the day, her third of the weekend, and it brought UMC within three runs. “She has two grand slams in her career… she had one last year and that was in a shortened season, obviously,” explained Coach Owen. “Really cool to see her on Senior Weekend come around.” They were not done though, with Rachel Jones (Fresh. Fort Collins, CO) getting a base hit and after a fielder’s choice, Leah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) also singled. Blomdahl followed those up with a two-RBI double to make it a one-run game at 7-6. After a pitching change was made, a catcher’s interference call put runners at the corners and UMC was able to score Blomdahl from third on a steal play to tie the game at 7-7.
Both teams were scoreless in the sixth inning before Minot State jumped back ahead with two runs in the seventh. The first two batters were retired, but a single and a two-run home run gave the Beavers the lead, 9-7.
UMC got the tying run to the plate, but Zarn hit a hard line drive right at the second baseman to end the game and give the Beavers a 9-7 win in game two and a split of the doubleheader. “I thought we finished the season really strong and I am proud of the team for that,” added Coach Owen.
FOR THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
The UMC Golden Eagles softball team finishes their season with an overall record of 10-32. Their final Northern Sun Conference record is 6-22. They finished with an away record of 5-11 and a home record of 3-11.
Minot State finishes their regular season at 22-20 overall and 15-13 in the NSIC. They will move on to the NSIC tournament.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Minot State | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 12 | 3 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 3 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Sofia Gombos- UMC | 2.0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Darian Pancirov- UMC | 1.0 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Kamryn Frisk- UMC | 1.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Katie Humhej- UMC | 1.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Gabi Dawyduk- Minot State |
4.1 | 12 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Trinity Valentine- Minot State | 2.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
For University of Minnesota Crookston
Cassie Querry- 2 for 4, home run, 4 RBI, run
Gabby Blomdahl- 2 for 3, double, 2 RBI, run
Jordan Peterson and Leah Macias- 2 hits, run each
Dana Zarn, Sarah Velasquez, Rachel Jones, Alina Avalos, Shaelyn Grant- 1 hit
For Minot State
Jazmin Karunungan- 3 for 4, 2 runs
Jamie Odlum- 2 for 4, 2 doubles, RBI, 2 runs
Julia Suchan- 2 for 4, 3 RBI, run
Lenora Watson and Isis Cabral- 1 for 4, home run, 2 RBI, run each
