Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

MOORHEAD, Minn. -- The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team belted out 15 hits in the doubleheader but was unable to slow down the Concordia-St. Paul offense in 12-6 and 8-2 losses to the Golden Bears Friday in St. Paul, Minn.

MSUM fell to 2-23 overall and 0-10 in the NSIC with the losses while Concordia, a regional qualifier a year ago, improved to 21-7 overall and 8-2 in the conference.

The Dragons had six extra-base hits -- including three homers -- in the twinbill. Senior Amanda Moore had a huge day, going 3-for-6 with two homers and five RBI.

"We hit the ball better and put runs on the board which is good to see," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "Amanda Moore hit the ball well today. Hopefully we can build off of offensive performance today and keep working to develop consistency in other areas of the game as well."

In the first game, Moore was 2-for-4 with a homer and four RBI. Sophomore Amanda Lynch was 3-for-4 with a double, while sophomore Brittany York was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Rachel Sannicandro and freshman Kristen Nordby each went 1-for-3, while sophomore Moriah Bruns was 1-for-4. Sophomore Mollie Annen had an RBI as well for MSUM, which had 10 hits in the game.

The Dragons faced an 8-0 deficit after four innings in the first game but battled back in the fifth.With one out, Bruns singled, and moved to second when Annen walked. York singled to load the bases. Moore then stepped up and hit a grand slam to right to clear the bases, bringing MSUM within 8-4.

MSUM continued to cut into the lead in the sixth. Nordby led off the sixth with a single, and Sannicandro followed with a single. Bruns reached on an error to load the bases. Annen's walk forced in Nordby with MSUM's fifth run. York then hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Sannicandro, bringing MSUM, which was down by eight runs at one point, within 8-6. A double play ended the inning, however.

Concordia responded with a four-run sixth, however to push the lead back to 12-6. Lynch doubled with one out in the seventh but  the Dragons were unable to sustain the rally and fell short. The Dragons, despite scoring six runs off of 10 hits, still left eight runners on base.

Freshman Morgan Nybo took the loss for MSUM, allowing seven runs (five earned) in three innings. She struck out one and walked two. Freshman Taylor Clifton pitched the final three innings and allowed five earned runs off of six hits.
The second game was closer than the score indicated, as MSUM was within 3-1 heading into the bottom of the fourth before a five-run frame allowed the Golden Bears to break the game open.

Moore was 1-for-2 with a homer and RBI, while Nordby was 1-for-3 with a homer and RBI. Lynch was 1-for-2, while Annen and Sannicandro were each 1-for-3.
Freshman Katie Edison took the loss for MSUM, allowing eight runs (seven earned) in five innings. She struck out five and walked two. Nordby pitched a scoreless inning of relief to finish.

The Dragons trailed 1-0 heading into the second before Moore's solo homer to left tied the game at 1-1.

Concordia added single runs in the third and fourth to take a 3-1 lead before scoring five times in the fifth.

Nordby's solo homer came in the top of the seventh and brought the Dragons within 8-2 but they got no closer.

MSUM's next action is a doubleheader Sunday against Minnesota State, Mankato in St. Peter, Minn. The games will be played at the Gustavus Adolphus football field in St. Peter, with times to be determined.