The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Women’s Fast Pitch Softball team put together a rally in the seventh inning, but it was a little too late as they fell in game one to the University of Mary Marauders 6-3. The UMC offense got it going in game two as they won by the run-rule, 11-2 to split the NSIC doubleheader on Senior Day in Crookston.
GAME ONE –
The Golden Eagles got the scoring started in the bottom of the first inning to take an early lead. Hannah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) tripled to right field and came in to score on a Jordan Peterson (Jr. Lakeville) RBIÂ groundout. “Sometimes anything in play we just go, but on that play it was just up to Hannah to read it and move up on the throw,” explained the Golden Eagles’ Head Coach Travis Owen.
The lead was short-lived as the Marauders were able to answer with a run in the top of the second. A leadoff home run to deep center field got Mary on the board and tied the game at 1-1. “All in all, solo homers usually don’t kill you… so if we can get the offense going from the start those solo homers don’t hurt us,” said Coach Owen.
Mary was able to take the lead in the top of the fourth inning with three runs. Another leadoff home run grabbed the lead for the Marauders at 2-1. After a groundout, two walks were followed up by a two RBI double to make it 4-1.
The Marauders were able to add an insurance run in the sixth inning. A one-out double came around to score on the next batter’s RBI single to increase their lead to 5-1.
Mary was not done adding on to their lead in the seventh inning. For the third time in the game, the Marauders got a leadoff home run. This time it was to make it a five run lead at 6-1.
The Golden Eagles offense woke up in the seventh inning as they put a rally together. Sarah Velasquez (Fresh. Chino, CA) walked with one out to get things started. A single from Dana Zarn (So. Winnipeg, Manitoba) put two runners on before an RBI single from Hannah Macias got UMC one closer at 6-2. An error loaded the bases and the a pinch-hit fielder’s choice from Gabby Blomdahl (So. Duluth) made it 6-3. A walk loaded the bases and put the winning run at the plate for the Golden Eagles. A line drive was caught on a nice play from the Marauders second baseman ended the game and gave Mary a 6-3 win in game one. “The ball off Rachel’s bat, if that finds a gap we have a chance to tie it up there,” added Coach Owen. “It was great to see us battle at the end.”
FOR THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| U of Mary | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 7 | 0 |
| UMC | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Katie Humhej- UMCÂ (LP) | 3.2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 7 |
| Darian Pancirov- UMC | 2.1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Kamryn Frisk- UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Alissa Alvarado- Mary | 3.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Nicole Eckhardt- Mary (WP) | 4.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
For University of Minnesota Crookston
Hannah Macias- 2 for 3, RBI, run
Jordan Peterson- 1 for 4, RBI
Dana Zarn- 1 for 4, run
Rachel Jones and Shaelyn Grant- 1 hit each
For University of Mary
Eryn De Jonge- 2 for 3, 3 RBI
Mariah Sanchez, Mikayla Pelesauma, Madelynn Trout- Solo home run each
GAME TWO –Â
The Golden Eagles once again took an early lead with a run in the first inning. With one out Peterson hit a solo home run to right field to grab the quick 1-0 lead.
The Marauders answered back in the top of the second inning. A leadoff single started the inning and then with two outs, a double to left-center field brought in the runner to tie the game at 1-1.
UMC took back the lead in the bottom of the inning with three runs. Back-to-back singles from Rachel Jones (Fresh. Fort Collins, CO) and Leah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) got the inning started. Then, after a sacrifice bunt, Hailey Hatfield (Fresh. Olathe, KS) put down her own sacrifice bunt to score the first run of the inning. Shaelyn Grant (Fresh. Grand Junction, CA) followed that up with an RBI single to make it 3-1. Two batters later, Peterson brought in another run with a single to give UMC a 4-1 lead after two innings. “Our approaches were great. That’s something that makes you proud as a coach,” said Coach Owen. “We made adjustments as a team in this game.”
UMC got another big inning in the third as they added on four more runs. Zarn reached on a walk, stole second base, and scored on a double from Jones. After a hit by pitch, Cassie Querry (Sr. Cassville, PA) hit a towering shot that almost got over the top of the pine trees in left field for a three-run homer to give the Golden Eagles an 8-1 lead through three innings. “Cassie has a ton of power so when she gets everything together on a swing it’s going to be crushed,” explained Coach Owen. “She had been struggling a little bit at the plate so it was great to see her hit that home run.”
After a scoreless fourth for both teams, the Marauders got back on the board with a run in the fifth. The leadoff hitter got on with a single, moved up to second on a wild pitch and scored on a two-out single to inch closer at 8-2. “Darian stayed within herself. She did a great job of ignoring the traffic on the bases and just getting outs,” added Coach Owen.
In the bottom of the sixth, the Golden Eagles got another three runs to to win the game by a run-rule. It started with a one-out, pinch-hit single from Blomdahl and a single from Zarn. Two wild pitches scored Blomdahl for the first run. The second out came when UMC tried to sneak a run in on a sacrifice bunt, but a heads up play from the Marauders resulted in Zarn being tagged out. With two outs and two runners in scoring position, Querry came up to bat and hit a grounder to shortstop with the throw to first getting to the fence allowing both runners to score to give UMC an 11-2 victory and a split of the doubleheader. “This is something we want to keep doing… not letting up and keep putting the pressure on them,” said Coach Owen. “We didn’t really give away any at-bats and sometimes you get content and do that.”
FOR THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
UMC improves to 9-31 overall and 5-21 in the NSIC. They will play their final two games of their season tomorrow when they host Minot State in a doubleheader starting at noon.
University of Mary moves to 8-31 this season and 7-19 in NSIC play. They travel to Bemidji State for a doubleheader in their final two games of the season.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | R | H | E |
| U of Mary | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| UMC | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 11 | 0 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Sofia Gombos- UMC | 4.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Darian Pancirov- UMC | 2.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaitlyn Alvarado- Mary | 2.0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Nicole Eckhardt- Mary | 0.0 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Alissa Alvarado- Mary | 3.2 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
For University of Minnesota Crookston
Leah Macias- 2 for 2, 3 runs
Rachel Jones- 2 for 3, double, RBI, 3 runs
Jordan Peterson- 2 for 4, home run, 2 RBI, run
Cassie Querry- 1 for 3, home run, 3 RBI, run
Hannah Macias, Gabby Blomdahl, Dana Zarn, Shaelyn Grant- 1 hit each
For University of Mary
Kaitlyn Alvarado- 2 for 3, RBI
Devyn Ritz- 1 for 3, double, RBI
Mariah Sanchez, Madelynn Trout, Morgan Diedrich- 1 hit each
