Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

BISMARCK, N.D. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team belted out 19 hits in the doubleheader but came up short against Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference foe Mary on Thursday, losing 8-3 and 11-4 (8 innings) in Bismarck, N.D.
The twinbill was played in cold, blustery conditions at University of Mary's field. Snow fell in the final innings of the second game (Dragon freshman Taylor Clifton, is shown pitching above in the final inning of the second game).

MSUM's offensive attack was led by sophomore Taylor Huss, who was 5-for-7 on the day with a double and an RBI.

The final score of the second game was misleading, as Mary scored seven runs in the top of the eighth -- as a steady snow fell --  to break a 4-4 tie. MSUM had just battled back from a 4-2 deficit in the bottom of the seventh to send the game to extra innings.

"With the experience our young team is gaining, we will start to win these close games," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "We are playing teams tough, now we need to find a way to get the win."

In the second game, Huss was 3-for-4 with a run scored, while sophomore Mollie Annen was 2-for-4 with a double. She also reached by a walk. Senior Amanda Moore was 2-for-5 with an RBI. Freshman Kristen Nordby was 1-for-3 with two RBI, including a game-tying two-run double in the seventh. Sophomore Brittany York, freshman Kristy Bruni and sophomore Rachel Sannicandro had hits.

MSUM was down 1-0 after the top of the first but came back in the bottom of the frame. Sophomore Moriah Bruns led off with walk, and moved to second on passed ball. One out later, York singled to move Bruns to third.

Moore singled to left to score Bruns and tying the game at 1-1. MSUM loaded the bases in the inning after that but a fly out ended the threat.
The Dragons took the lead in the bottom of the second. Sannicandro doubled with one out, and moved to third on a wild pitch. Annen walked, and Sannicandro would score on a wild pitch.

Mary regained the lead in the fifth at 4-2 with three runs, with the big blow being a two-run homer by Allison Brown. The game stayed that way into the seventh when MSUM mounted its rally. With two out, Huss singled, and Bruni followed with a single. Nordby then delivered the clutch two-out hit, ripping a double to right center to score both runners, tying the game at 4-4 and sending the contest to extra innings.

Mary had eight hits and took advantage of three Dragon errors to post the seven-run eighth inning.  MSUM looked to answer in the bottom of the frame, as Annen singled with one out, and York reached on a fielding error. However, a groundout and foul out ended the threat.

Freshman Katie Edison had a solid outing for MSUM, going five innings and allowing four runs, three earned. She struck out four. Freshman Taylor Clifton finished in relief for the Dragons and allowed seven runs, but only four were earned.

In the first game,  Bruns was 2-for-3 with a double and also reached after being hit by a pitch.  Huss was 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored, while Bruni was 1-for-2 with a sacrifice.  York was 1-for-3 with an RBI, while Moore was 1-for-4 with an RBI. Sophomore Amanda Lynch also was 1-for-3 in the game.

One bad inning doomed MSUM in Game 1. Mary scored five times in the top of the third, taking advantage of two Dragon errors and a walk. The big blow was a two-run homer by Julissa Perales.

The Dragons cut into the deficit in the bottom of the third. Sophomore Rachel Sannicandro walked, and Bruns singled to center. Sophomore Mollie Annen reached ona fielder's choice, forcing out Bruns at second.  Sannicandro scored on a groundout by York, and later in the inning, Moore's RBI single scored Annen to bring MSUM within 5-2.

Mary pushed the lead to 8-2 with a three-run fifth.  The Dragons got one of the runs back in the sixth. Huss doubled with one out, and moved to second on a single by  Bruni.  Sannicandro's grounded was misplayed at second, allowing Huss to score MSUM's third run.

Freshman Morgan Nybo took the loss for MSUM, giving up eight runs (six earned) in fie innings. She struck out five. Clifton pitched two perfect innings of relief for MSUM.

For the two games, MSUM smacked out 19 hits and while the Dragons are getting runners in scoring position, the big hit is proving elusive, as they left 20 runners on base in Thursday's twinbill.

"We are hitting the ball better and are giving ourselves scoring opportunities," Fehl said. "It's just a matter of capitalizing on those chances and pushing a few more runs across."

MSUM is scheduled to face Upper Iowa and Winona State in conference doubleheaders, with sites and dates to be determined. Follow msumdragons.com for updates.