FAYETTE, Iowa – The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragons softball team took one of their best recent starts into Fayette, Iowa to start their NSIC schedule against the Upper Iowa Peacocks.

The Dragons, relying mostly on their offense to start the season, brought their top pitching and defense to take care of business against the Peacocks, taking the first game 2-1 and finishing off the sweep 7-2 in the second game.

In the opener, Mara Litzer threw a complete game, allowing only one run on four hits and one walk while striking out five. The Peacocks put themselves in trouble early, allowing two hits and then hitting Molly Keeler to load the bases for AJ Hoefer, who singled and scored the only run of the inning.

In the third, Hoefer hit a solo shot to left field to put the eventual winning run on the board. Amanda Moore added to the Dragons' total in the sixth, following Steeli Norton's double with a two-bagger of her own. The Dragons added one more in the seventh when Katie Howland lined a homerun to left field to give the Dragons a 4-1 lead. The Dragons would hold on by that same score.

In the second game the Dragons brought out even more offense. Down 1-0, Hoefer hit the Dragons' third homerun on the day to tie the game after an inning and a half. Not content with another close game, the Dragons hung a four-spot on the Peacocks in the fourth.

With one out, Litzer reached on an error after Keeler walked and Hoefer singled to load the bases. After a sacrifice fly by Norton that plated Keeler, Moore followed up with a double to center, scoring Litzer and Hoefer. Before the inning was over, the Dragons tacked on one more on a Peacock error to lead 5-1 after four innings.

Litzer doubled in the fifth inning, scoring Hoefer who was hit by a pitch with one out. In the seventh, Hoefer slammed the door on the Peacocks, hitting her third homerun on the day, this time to right field to push the Dragons' lead up to six.

The Dragons won by a final of 7-2. Norton gained her fifth win, allowing only one run and four hits over four innings while striking out three. Alexa D'Onofrio also allowed one run and three hits over three innings while setting down three batters of her own. The Dragons' four homeruns on the day gives them 18 total on the year, matching their total from 2010.

The Dragons improve to 10-5 on the year and 2-0 in the NSIC. The Peacocks drop to 4-21 and 0-2 NSIC. The Dragons look to keep the wins coming against Winona State with a double header beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1 Box (Dragons 2, Peacocks 1)
Game 2 Box (Dragons 7, Peacocks 2)