The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) softball team dropped their first two home games of the year, losing 5-1 in game one and 12-1 in 5 innings in game two, in a pair of defeats to the University of Minnesota Duluth in two NSIC games played at the UMC Softball Field.
GAME ONE – Minnesota Duluth had one runner reach by an error in the top of the first inning before a single into left field gave the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead at the end of the top of the first inning. In the bottom of the first inning, Rocky Bjorge (Sr. Prior Lake) homered to center field tying the game at 1-1 with her solo shot after one inning of play. The Bulldogs used a walk, error, and hit to load the bases to start the top of the fourth inning before a grand slam pushed the visitors in front 5-1. Minnesota Duluth’s pitching carried the Bulldogs the rest of the game as UMD took game one 5-1. “Paige (Pitlick) has been solid for us to start the game, so that’s not a surprise that she gave us a good outing,” said UMC softball coach Travis Owen. “We did have good pitching in that first game, and we were battling back. That’s the thing that this team has been doing really well is we don’t seem to get down, and we battle back regardless of the score and we believe we can win. That first one didn’t go our way, but there were some positives in that one for sure.”
| G1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| UMD | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 |
| UMC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Paige Pitlick – UMC | 6.2 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| Darian Pancirov – UMC | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
For UMC
Rocky Bjorge – 1-2, HR, RBI, run, 2 walks
GAME TWO – Minnesota Duluth used a one-out double to put a runner in scoring position in the top of the second inning. An error allowed the next batter to reach base safely while plating the runner at second base giving the Bulldogs a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the second inning. Minnesota Duluth used one error to get their first runner on base in the top of the third inning before a base hit to put two runners on. A double plated two more runs for the Bulldogs giving the visitors a 3-0 lead. An error in centerfield allowed Minnesota Duluth to score their third run of the inning to take a 4-0 lead head into the bottom of the third inning. The Bulldogs took a 5-0 lead with a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning taking that five-run led into the bottom of the fourth inning. Rocky Bjorge (Sr., Prior Lake) led off the bottom of the fourth inning for Minnesota Crookston with a single into right field. After a pair of outs, a ground ball error at third base aloud Bjorge to score from second base cutting UMC’s deficit down to 5-1 after four innings. In the top of the fifth inning, Minnesota Duluth recorded two outs amongst their first three batters faced split by a walk to open the inning. A wild pitch allowed the lone runner to reach second base before a walk put runners on first and second base. A passed ball moved two runners into scoring position before a fielders choice allowed one runner to score giving UMD a 6-1 lead.
An error at third base pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 7-1 before a two-RBI double increased Minnesota Duluth’s advantage to 9-1. An RBI single to right field expanded the visitor’s lead to 10-1 before a double to the fence increased UMD’s lead to 12-1. The Bulldogs protected their double-digit lead in the bottom of the fifth inning to secure a 12-1 run-rule victory. “We just needed to be better mentally,” explained Owen. “We just made some mistakes there as far as people not knowing where they needed to be. I’ve to get us better there. That’s on me as a coach as well. We all have to better defensively, mentally, just sharper and come out ready to play. We can be better, obviously, hitting as well. If we have that mentality, that we had in that first game at the plate, I think we’re going to be in that game.”
Minnesota Crookston falls to 12-22 overall and 1-9 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return to the diamond on Saturday when UMC hosts a doubleheader against Northern State beginning at 1 p.m. UMD improves to 15-12 on the year and 6-2 in conference play.
| G2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | R | H | E |
| UMD | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 12 | 8 | 3 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Taylor Graven – UMC | 4.0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
| Darian Pancirov – UMC | 1.0 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
For UMC
Rocky Bjorge – 1-1, RUN, walk
