MOORHEAD, Minn. - The Minnesota State University Moorhead Dragon softball team is traveling south for the last games of the season. The Dragons will head to St. Cloud, Minn., to take on the St. Cloud State University Huskies at 1 and 3 p.m. on April 21 and St. Paul, Minn., on Sunday April 22 to play the Concordia University – St. Paul Golden Bears at 12 and 2 p.m.
DRAGONS
The Dragons (9-30, 5-17 NSIC) took on non-conference opponent, Jamestown College, in their last outing on April 18. The Jimmies defeated the Dragons 7-1 and 13-2.
In game one the Jimmies were silent in the first two innings but posted four runs off five hits in the top of the third inning. The Dragons answered with one run in the bottom of the inning. Miranda Bronson scored the only Dragons run of the game off a sac-fly to center field by Amanda Moore.
The Jimmies added three runs in the top of the sixth inning and one in the top of the seventh, taking a 7-1 lead. In the bottom of the final inning the Dragons had a chance to rally after Paige Smith doubled the centerfield but were unable to convert for runs. Smith was left on base and the game ended, 7-1.
In game two junior pitcher Alexa D'Onfrio held the Jimmies scoreless until the fourth inning. The Jimmies scored two runs in the top of the inning but were matched by the Dragons in the bottom of the inning, tying things up at 2-2. AJ Hoefer shot a solo home run over the left field fence followed by an RBI single up the middle from Sam Adolph.
The Jimmies combined for 11 runs in the next two innings; three in the fifth and eight in the sixth, taking a 13-2 lead. The Dragons couldn't answer the Jimmies run and ended the game after six innings, 13-2, with the Jimmies victorious.
HUSKIES
The No. 11 Huskies (20-28, 6-16 NSIC) dropped both games to the Mavericks of Minnesota State University Mankato on April 17. The Huskies fell 2-0 in both games.
Both games were pitching duels. In game one, the Huskies posted their only hit in the first inning. The Mavericks pitcher sat down the next 20 batters that appeared at the plate.
In game two the score sat tied, 0-0, until the fifth inning when the Mavericks posted one run. The Huskies posted only three hits in the game. After the Mavericks tacked on a lone run in the top of the seventh, they took the game 2-0.
GOLDEN BEARS
The Golden Bears (24-19, 9-11 NSIC) are the No. 9 spot in the NSIC. The team split their last meeting with the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs on April 17.
The Mustangs took game one, 2-0. The Golden Bears posted six hits in the game but left all the runners on base, taking a shut out. The Mustangs posted only two hits in game one but earned two walks, allowing two runs to score.
In game two the Golden Bears earned a 4-2 win. The Mustangs took the early 1-0 lead after the second inning but were quickly stifled when the Golden Bears posted three runs in the top of the third.
The Golden Bears held the 3-1 lead until the seventh inning. Concordia built their lead to 4-1 after scoring a single run in the top of the inning. The Mustangs rallied but were only able to score one run before the end of the inning and the game.
The Match Up
Last season the Dragons met with the Huskies on two occasions. First in the St. Scholastica Fall Classic in St. Cloud, Minn. On Feb. 26, 2011 the Huskies defeated the Dragons, 6-4. The second meeting of the season was a double header in NSIC action. The teams split on May 1, 2011 with the Dragons winning game one, 6-2, and the Huskies taking game two, 17-0.
MSUM and Concordia- St. Paul met only once during the regular season, a double-header. On May 2, 2011 the Golden Bears swept the Dragons, winning 15-5 and 5-3.
