UMC SOFTBALL SPLITS DOUBLE HEADER WITH SIOUX FALLS

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) softball team split a doubleheader with the University of Sioux Falls winning 1-0 in game one and falling 6-5 in 10 innings in a pair of NSIC games played at Sherman Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

GAME ONE – UMC struck early in game one to take the lead. In the first inning, Haley Strachan (Sr., Phoenix, AZ) bunted for a single to open the game. With one out, Mikaela Rodriguez (Jr., Laveen, AZ) singled to left field moving Strachan to second base. Maggie Morales (Sr., Tucson, AZ) continued the inning with a single down the left field line scoring Strachan from second base to give the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead. A walk to Rocky Bjorge  (Sr., Prior Lake) loaded the bases, but back-to-back strikeouts ended the top of the first inning with UMC in front 1-0. That one run proved to be all the Golden Eagles needed as Paige Pitlick (Jr., Jordan) dominated in the circle for Minnesota Crookston tossing the complete seven innings and allowing just two hits and three walks while striking out seven. Pitlick prevented a single run from scoring and preserving the 1-0 lead from the first inning into a 1-0 win. 

G1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
UMC	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
USF	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	1

 

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Paige Pitlick – UMC	7.0	2	0	0	3	7

For UMC
Maggie Morales – 1-3, RBI
Haley Strachan – 1-3, run

 

GAME TWO – Sioux Falls used the long ball to open the scoring in the second game with a two-run home run providing the Cougars with a 2-0 lead in the second inning. A double to left field in the bottom of the fourth inning doubled up Sioux Falls’ lead as USF’s advantage grew to 4-0 going into the fifth inning. In the seventh inning, trailing 4-0, Maggie Morales (Sr., Tucson, AZ) drove a home run over the center field fence giving Minnesota Crookston its first run of the game to pull within 4-1. Hannah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) singled to left field to continue the final inning rally before a passed ball allowed Macias to advance to second base. Haley Strachan (Sr., Phoenix, AZ) reached on a throwing error putting runners on first and third base with one out in the inning. Leah Macias (Fr., West Covina, CA) homered to center field tying the game at 4-4 as UMC completed its seventh-inning rally to tie the game at 4-4 heading into the bottom of the seventh-inning. In the bottom of the eighth inning, Sioux Falls managed to load the bases but a fielder’s choice out at home plate followed by a pop up out at second base ended the threat as UMC extended the game into the ninth inning tied at 4-4. In the top of the tenth inning, Malia Pula (Jr., Gilroy, CA) led off the inning with a home run giving the Golden Eagles a 5-4 lead heading into the bottom of the tenth inning. Paige Pitlick (Jr., Jordan) returned to the circle for her third inning looking to close out the doubleheader sweep for Minnesota Crookston. The Cougars loaded the bases before a sacrifice fly to center field allowed Sioux Falls to tie the game at 5-5 before a single down the left field line plated the game-winning run from third base for USF giving the hosts a walk-off 6-5 win in ten innings.

UMC improves to 12-16 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The Golden Eagles return to the diamond on Monday when they travel to Marshall for a doubleheader against Southwest Minnesota State beginning at noon. Sioux Falls improves to 12-15 overall and 2-4 in NSIC play.

G2	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	R	H	E
UMC	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	0	0	1	5	9	1
USF	0	2	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	15	2

 

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Taylor Graven – UMC	7.0	10	4	4	0	8
Paige Pitlick – UMC	2.2	5	2	2	1	1

For UMC
Leah Macias – 3-4, 3 RBIs, run, HR, 2B
Rocky Bjorge – 2-5