Box Score 1 | Box Score 2
ABERDEEN, S.D. – Strong pitching performances from sophomores

said. "We were able to get some key hits and manufacture some runs in both games. And Morgan and Kristen both pitched well for us."

Friday's games were played in strong winds blowing in from right center, with gusts recorded as high as 47 mph.

In the first game, Nybo fired a six-hit shutout, striking out nine while walking four. It was her third shutout of the 2014 season.

The Dragons outhit the Golden Eagles 11-6 in the opening game. Junior shortstop Taylor Huss was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while freshman first baseman Lauren Meeker was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Junior catcher Brittany York was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI. Sophomore Shannon Smith had a pinch hit single and RBI, while Nybo and junior center fielder each had hits.

MSUM scored runs in four separate innings, starting in the first. Annen led off with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Heather Tice.  Annen moved to third on a wild pitch, and York followed with a walk. Huss singled to center to score Annen with the game's first run.

The lead grew to 3-0 in the third for MSUM.  York led off with a single, and freshman Hannah Klug pinch-ran for her. Klug stole second and scored when Huss doubled to right. Nordby walked, and a fielder's choice by Nybo forced Huss out at third. Meeker singled to load the bases, and Nordby would score on a wild pitch to give MSUM a three-run advantage.

The Dragons added to their lead in the fifth. Huss led off with a single, and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Nordby. Nybo singled to move Huss to third. Huss scored when Meeker singled up the middle.

MSUM added two key insurance runs in the sixth. Tice reached on an error to lead off the inning and scored on a double by York on a hard-hit line drive to left, giving MSUM a 5-0 lead. Two outs later, York scored when Smith hit a pop up into the wind that fell for a hit to give MSUM a 6-0 lead.

That was more than enough for Nybo, who stranded 10 Golden Eagle runners in the game.

The second game was a pitching duel between Nordby and UMC's Paige Schaust. Nordby fired a complete game and did not allow an earned run, striking out six while walking one. Schaust took the loss despite giving up one earned run in six innings.

Freshman second baseman Jill Fox was 2-for-3 with a double and RBI for MSUM while York was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Sophomore designated hitter Kristy Bruni was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Huss had a hit, while Annen reached base three times (twice on walks and once on an error).

After three scoreless innings between the two teams, MSUM broke through in the fourth against Schaust. With one out, Meeker reached on an error; she was forced out at second on a fielder's choice by Bruni. Fox then delivered the key two-out hit with a double to left center to score Bruni and giving MSUM a 1-0 lead.

MSUM added what proved to be a huge second run in the fifth. Annen reached on an error and moved to second on a groundout. York singled up the middle to score Annen, giving MSUM a 2-0 lead.

UMC scored once in the top of the sixth and had the tying run on second with one out, but Nordby got a groundout and a flyout to end that threat. In the seventh, UMC had runners on first and second with nobody out before freshman third baseman Kristina Villalobos snagged a ground ball off the bat of Brooke Timmins, touched third and fired to first for a critical double play. Nordby then struck out the final batter looking to end the game, giving MSUM a sweep on the day.

MSUM will wrap up the weekend on Saturday with a doubleheader against Bemidji State. The doubleheader begins at 3 p.m. at the Moccasin Softball Complex in Aberdeen, S.D.