UMC SOFTBALL SETS PROGRAM WINS RECORD, SPLITS DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST NORTHERN STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) softball team earned their first home win of the season, setting a new school record with thirteen wins in one season, on Saturday after splitting a doubleheader winning game one 4-3 before dropping game two 3-0 against Northern State in a pair of NSIC games played at the UMC Softball Field. 

GAME ONE – Leah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) doubled for Minnesota Crookston to open the bottom of the third inning trying to score the first run of the game.  Haley Strachan (Sr., Phoenix, AZ) delivered a single to left field to plate Macias from second base giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead after three innings. Northern State took its first lead in the following inning. A walk put Northern State’s lead-off runner on base before a pair of outs set up the Wolves Maddison Rutter who connected on a two-run home run giving the visitors a 2-1 lead. Northern State added one more run with a sacrifice fly to take a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth inning. Rocky Bjorge (Sr., Prior Lake) led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a solo home run trimming Minnesota Crookston’s deficit down to 3-2 heading into the final frame. In the bottom of the seventh inning, trailing by one run, J. Peterson was hit by a pitch to open the inning. A ground out allowed Peterson to advance to second base followed by a second straight ground out moving the tying run to third base. Malia Pula (Jr., Gilroy, CA) delivered a clutch hit to left field to plate Peterson tying the game at 3-3. Pula advanced to second base on a wild pitch giving the Golden Eagles the winning run in scoring position. Rocky Bjorge again delivered a timely hit knocking a single into left-center field allowing Pula to score from second base as Minnesota Crookston secured a 4-3 walk-off win. “Paige (Pitlick) had a great game,” said UMC head coach Travis Owen. “We just stuck with it and kept battling which is a great strength of this team and I thought regardless of what was going to happen it was just great to see us come back after yesterday and have that kind of battle.”

For UMC
Rocky Bjorge – 2-3, 2 RBI, run, HR, walk
Malia Pula – 2-4, RBI, run

GAME TWO – An error by UMC’s shortstop sparked Northern State’s rally in the third inning allowing the Wolves to take the lead. A wild pitch moved the leadoff runner to second base before a double to left center field gave Northern State a 1-0 lead. A single through the left side of the infield plated the second run of the inning as NSU took a 2-0 lead to the bottom of the third inning. In the top of the fourth inning, the Wolves added a third run on a sacrifice fly pulling in front 3-0 after four innings. Minnesota Crookston mustered just two hits in throughout the game and proved unable to solve Northern State pitcher Jamie Fisher who tossed a complete game shutout securing a 3-0 win for the Wolves. “It’s always great to get that first one because you put yourself in a position to sweep and at worst you get a split. In that game we had great pitching and defense, really all day, we just have to be a little bit sharper at hitting, but we’re not at our ceiling yet so we’re just going to keep working on getting better.”

Minnesota Crookston improves to 13-23 overall and 2-10 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles return to the diamond on Wednesday when they travel to Bismarck, North Dakota for a doubleheader against UMary beginning at 2:00 p.m. Northern State improves to 12-22 overall and 4-8 in conference play.

For UMC
Mika Rodriguez – 1-2
Haley Strachan – 1-2