The University of Minnesota Crookston Softball team was no-hit by Sam Pederson and the University of Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs in game one leading to a 10-0 defeat and in game two, UMD used the long ball to win 9-1 in five innings in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader played in Duluth.
GAME ONE –
After a scoreless first inning, UMC threatened in the second inning getting a couple of runners into scoring position with the help of a couple passed balls, but were unable to bring them home. Minnesota Duluth led off their half of the second inning with a double and a walk, but UMC’s starting pitcher, Sofia Gombos (Fresh. Salinas, CA), worked out of trouble to keep the game tied at zero.
UMD got the scoring started in the bottom of the third, after a one-out double that was followed by a two-run homerun to right-center field to give UMD a 2-0 lead after three innings.
After a scoreless fourth inning from the Golden Eagles, Duluth broke the game wide open bringing 13 batters to the plate while scoring eight runs. A solo homerun led off the inning for the Bulldogs which prompted a pitching change for UMC. After a double and a flyout, UMD got a hit in their next six plate appearances, including two doubles. An error on one of the singles allowed the Bulldogs to score three more unearned runs with two of them scoring on a two-out, two-RBI single before the third out was recorded.
With the eight-run rule coming into play, the Golden Eagles needed to score three runs in the top of the fifth inning to extend the game. Hannah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) led off the inning with a walk and she advanced to second on a passed ball. Leah Macias (Jr. West Covina, CA) followed by reaching base on an error. After a fielder’s choice and a foul out, Leah advanced to third on a wild pitch. But, two pitches later a strikeout ended the game and finished off the no-hitter.
FOR THE GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
GAME TWO –
UMD got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning after holding UMC scoreless in the opening half inning. The first four Bulldog hitters reached base, starting with a single and a walk and the next two batters followed with an RBI single and an RBI double. UMD added a run on a sacrifice fly that the Golden Eagles turned into a double play. A groundout ended the inning.
Duluth got back on the board in the bottom of the third inning. After a first pitch out, the next three hitters went single-triple-single to add two more runs and increase the Bulldogs lead to 5-0.
The Golden Eagles answered back with their first run of the day in the top of the fourth when Dana Zarn (So. Winnipeg, Manitoba) sent the first pitch she saw over the left field fence to cut the lead to 5-1. Later in the inning, Shaelyn Grant (Fresh. Grand Junction, CO) singled to left and was advanced into scoring position, but UMC was unable to bring her home, keeping the deficit at four.
After a 1-2-3 inning by Gombos in the bottom of the fourth, UMC looked to cut farther into the lead. Hannah Macias singled with one out, but was subsequently thrown out trying to steal second to get into scoring position before a strikeout ended the inning.
The Bulldogs did not make an out in the bottom of the fifth inning leading to another run rule victory. A leadoff single was followed up by a two-run homerun to right field to make it 7-1. Another single led to a two-run homerun that ended the game, as it gave the Bulldogs their eight run lead and a sweep of the doubleheader.
FOR THE GAME TWO BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE.
The Golden Eagles are now 5-17 overall, and 1-7 in the Northern Sun Conference. Duluth improves to 16-6 overall and 6-2 in the NSIC.
The Golden Eagles will stay on the road this weekend as they have another pair of doubleheaders. On Saturday, they will face off with Moorhead (4-16, 2-4) starting at 1 p.m. and on Sunday they will play Northern State (12-8, 3-3) starting at noon.
