The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team continued its outstanding play, beating the Minot State Beavers 6-3 in the first game and losing 4-2 in the second game of a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader at the UMC Softball field. The game one win was a program record eighth conference win.
GAME ONE –
FIRST INNING
Minot State looked to get off to a hot start, and it did so. After a leadoff flyout, the Beavers recorded three straight hits, capped off with an RBI single by Anna LaCount to put the Beavers up 1-0 in the first. UMC’s Alexa Guilford (Jr. Crystal City, Manitoba) then got a flyout to end the inning.
UMC’s Whitnee Curry (Sr. Lincoln, NE) and Rayna French (Soph. La Salle, Manitoba) singled, and Irelyn Spencer (Soph. Rapid City, SD) laid down a sacrifice bunt to move runners to second and third base, but the next batter struck out, and the inning was over.
SECOND INNING –
Both teams were retired in 1-2-3 fashion for a quick inning.
THIRD INNING
Minot State had a ground out before a bunt single. The next batter popped out and UMC got a double play.
In the home half of the inning, UMC looked to jump out in front. Just like the first inning, the Golden Eagles got a one-out single from Riley Blake (Fresh. Las Vegas, NV). French and Spencer walked to load the bases. Koch followed with a single to knock in two runs to give the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead through three innings.
FOURTH INNING
Minot State didn’t let UMC keep the lead long, as Paige Kellogg and LaCounty hit back-to-back home runs for a 3-2 lead. The next two batters were retired before a walk and two singles loaded the bases. The next batter struck out.
UMC’s Madison Yandle (Fresh. Lakeville) singled with one out. But Yandle was out at second on a fielder’s choice before a ground out ended the inning.
FIFTH INNING
After a leadoff groundout, LaCount and Kellogg singled. With two outs, Abby Lohse came up, and on a 2-2 count, the runners took off, thinking it was a 3-2 count, and Kelogg was caught stealing at 3rd to end the inning.
In the bottom of the inning, UMC’s first two batters grounded out before Spencer walked, Koch and Bryanna Decker (Fresh. Rosevill, CA) singled and a run scored to tie the game at 3-3. Gabriella Gomez (Fresh. Lakewood, CA) doubled to score two runs and UMC led 5-3.
SIXTH INNING
UMC pitcher, Evie Stuck (Sr. Papillion, NE), continued to cruise in relief. After a one-out hit batter, she struck out the next batter before getting an out on a fielder’s choice.
UMC’s Chayse Doering led off the bottom of the inning with a triple, and then a routine ground ball hit by Blake was booted by the Beavers, and a run scored, giving UMC a 6-3 lead.
SEVENTH INNING
All three Minot State batters ground out to retire the Beavers and UMC won its fifth game in a row, with a 6-3 victory.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Minot | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 | 1 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | X | 6 | 11 | 0 |
For UMC-
Haley Koch – 2 for 3, 2 rbi, run, walk
Gabrielle Gomez – 1 for 3, 2 rbi, double
Irelyn Spencer – 1 for 1, 2 walks, 2 runs
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alexa Guilford – UMC | 3.0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Evie Stuck – UMC | 4.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Reegan Floyd – MSU | 4.2 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Calley Olson – MSU | 1.1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Game two –
FIRST INNING
Minot State started the game strong with a double, a bunt single, and a double to take a 2-0 lead. The next three batters were retired.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
SECOND INNING
Minot State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a ground out, a strikeout, and a fly out.
UMC’s first two batters were retired before Bryanna Decker (Fresh. Roseville, CA) singled to left field. The next batter flew out and the inning was over.
THIRD INNING
Minot State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion again before UMC’s Madisen Yandle (Fresh. Lakeville) led off the bottom of the inning with a single. Riley Blake (Fresh. Las Vegas, NV) was hit by a pitch. The next batter grounded out, allowing the runners to advance. Rayna French (Soph. La Salle, Manitoba) walked, but the next batter popped out and the inning was over.
FOURTH INNING
Minot State led off with a double before the next three batters were retired. UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion as Minot State took a 2-0 lead into the fifth inning.
FIFTH INNING
Minot State added a run with one out as VanWickler crushed solo home run for a 3-0 lead. The next two batters were retired.
UMC’s Chayse Doering (Fresh. Shakopee) singled with one out before the next two batters popped out.
SIXTH INNING
Minot State’s leadoff batter walked. The next batter struck out before a fielder’s choice got an out at second base. After another walk, the Beaves singled in a run for a 4-0 lead.
UMC looked to get on the board in the bottom of the inning when French doubled. After a strikeout, Haley Koch (Sr. Mondamin, IA) singled before the next two batters were retired.
SEVENTH INNING
The first two Minot State batters were retired before a walk. The next batter lined out, and Minot State took a 4-0 lead into the bottom of the inning.
UMC’s Hannah Trzinski (Fresh. Stevens Point, WI) had a pinch-hit single with one out. Blake doubled to get the Golden Eagles within a 4-1 deficit. Whitnee Curry (Sr., Lincoln, NE) singled to score another run. The next batter was retired, and Minot State held on for a 4-2 victory to split the doubleheader.
UMC is now 8-14 in the NSIC and 20-29 overall and will have a non-conference game at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. Minot State is 15-9 in the NSIC and 27-20 overall.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Minot | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
For UMC-
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Delaney Penner-UMC (LP) | 6.0 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 5 |
| Sydney McMurdie-UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jasmine Blizzard-MSU (WP) | 7.0 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
