The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Softball team lost 4-3 and 3-2 to the Northern State Wolves in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader in Aberdeen, SD.
GAME ONE –
FIRST INNING-
The first two UMC batters were retired before Rayna French (Soph. La Salle, Manitoba) reached on an error and Irelyn Spencer (Soph. Rapid City, SD) walked before the next batter popped out.
In the bottom of the inning, Northern State’s first two batters were retired before a single. The next batter struck out and the inning was over.
THIRD INNING –
UMC’s French singled with one out. After a strikeout, Haley Koch (Sr. Mondamin, Iowa) doubled and the Golden Eagles had runners at second and third base. The next batter grounded out to second base.
Northern State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a fly out, ground out, and a strikeout.
FOURTH INNING-
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a ground out, strike out, and pop out.
Northern State started the bottom of the inning with a single. The next two batters grounded out before a walk. The next Wolves batter grounded out and the game was still tied at 1-1.
FIFTH INNING-
UMC’s Riley Blake (Fresh. Las Vegas, NV) and Whitnee Curry (Sr. Lincoln, NE) reached on an error. French walked to load the bases. Spencer singled to centerfield to score a run. Koch flew out to centerfield to score another run and the Golden Eagles led 3-1.
Northern State’s first two batters were retired before a single. The next batter flew out.
SIXTH INNING –
UMC’s leadoff batter grounded out before Hernandez singled. After a ground out, Hernandez stole third base, but the next batter popped out.
Northern State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pair of ground outs and a fly-out.
SEVENTH INNING-
UMC was looking to add an insurance run in the seventh inning and the first two batters were retired before Koch doubled. The next batter struck out and the Golden Eagles led 3-1 going into the bottom of the inning.
Northern State’s first two batters grounded out. The next batter walked, UMC committed an error and the next batter singled to score a run. The next batter doubled to score two runs to win the game 4-3 in come-from-behind fashion, giving UMC a heartbreaking loss.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 2 |
| NSU | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 7 | 3 |
For UMC-
Haley Koch – 2 for 3, rbi, double
Jocelyn Hernandez – 2 for 3, rbi
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alexa Guilford – UMC | 6.2 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Abby Rux-NSU | 7.0 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
Game two –
FIRST INNING-
UMC’s Curry reached on a one-out walk. After a strikeout, Spencer singled before the Golden Eagles were retired after a fielder’s choice ended the half inning.
Northern State started the bottom of the inning with a double before the next two batters struck out. The next batter lined out for the third out of the inning.
SECOND INNING-
UMC’s Gabrielle Gomez (Fresh. Lakewood, CA) reached on an error with one out. Madisen Yandle (Fresh. Lakeville) reached on a fielder’s choice before stealing second base. The next batter grounded out.
Northern State’s first two batters were retired before a pair of singles. The next batter struck out for the third out of the inning.
THIRD INNING-
The first two UMC batters were retired before a pitch hit French, and Spencer reached on an error. The next batter flew out.
Northern State’s first batter walked and advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt. The next batter singled before a run scored on a sacrifice fly to centerfield for a 1-0 lead.
FOURTH INNING-
The first two UMC batters were retired before Yandle reached on a bunt single, and the next batter flew out for the third out of the inning.
Northern State led off the bottom of the inning with a double. After an out, the next batter doubled to score a run. UMC made a pitching change, and the next batter singled to give the Wolves a 3-0 lead.
FIFTH INNING-
UMC looked to answer in the fourth inning as Blake singled, a pitch hit Curry, and French reached on a fielder’s choice as everybody was safe and the bases were loaded with nobody out. Northern State made a pitching change, and the next batter hit into a double play. Curry scored on a wild pitch, and Koch singled to score a run, and UMC trailed 3-2.
The first two Northern State batters were retired. After a single, the next batter grounded out to end the inning.
SIXTH INNING-
UMC’s Yandle singled with one out before the next two batters were retired on strikeouts.
Northern State’s leadoff batter walked. After an out, a Wolve singled on a bunt before the next batter hit into a double play, and the inning was over.
SEVENTH INNING-
UMC needed a run to keep the game going. Curry walked, and the next two batters struck out. The next batter hit into a fielder’s choice for the third out of the inning, and Northern State won the game to complete the sweep.
UMC drops to 8-16 in the NSIC and 20-32 overall. With the two losses, the only way the Golden Eagles could make the playoffs is if they beat MSU-Moorhead in both games on Sunday and Sioux Falls loses both games on Sunday. Northern State improves to 6-20 in the NSIC and 12-35 overall.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| NSU | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | – | 3 | 10 | 2 |
For UMC-
Madisen Yandle – 2 for 3
Riley Blake – 1 for 3
Irelyn Spencer – 1 for 3
Haley Koch – 1 for 4
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Delaney Penner-UMC | 3.1 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Charlotte Dombrowski-UMC | 2.2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Dessa Bryant-NSU | 4.0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Abby Rux-NSU | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
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