MINOT, N.D. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team was errorless in the field and had two solid pitching performances, but couldn't come up with the big hit as the Dragons were swept by Minot State, 3-2 and 2-0 in Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference action Tuesday in Minot, N.D.
MSUM fell to 11-21 with the losses.
"We played very good defense and pitched well in both games," MSUM head coach
Kelsey Fehl said. "We had our opportunities in both games offensively we just couldn't string enough hits together to score runs."
In the first game, senior catcher
Brittany York was 2-for-3, while senior center fielder
Mollie Annen was 1-for-3 with a home run. Senior shortstop
Taylor Huss had an RBI while junior right fielder
Kristy Bruni added a hit.
Junior pitcher
Morgan Nybo had a good performance in defeat, going six innings and allowing three earned runs. She allowed six hits, walked one and struck out six.
Annen led off the game with a homer on the first pitch to give MSUM a 1-0 lead. Minot State answered with two runs in the bottom of the first to take a 2-1 lead. The Beavers added another run in the fourth to push the lead to 3-1.
MSUM fought back in the sixth. Sophomore left fielder Carly Willamson walked, and was forced at second on a fielder's choice by Annen. Sophomore designated hitter
Hannah Klug reached on a fielder's choice, and Annen advanced to second on an error at third. York singled to load the bases. Huss hit a short pop up that fell behind second; she was out on the play but Annen scored to bring MSUM within 3-2. The Dragons had the go-ahead run at second with two out but a groundout ended the threat for MSUM.
In the second game, York was 3-for-4 while Huss was 2-for-4. Annen, junior pitcher
Kristen Nordby, sophomore left fielder
Carly Williamson and freshman third baseman
Sydney Beck all had hits for MSUM.
Nordby took the loss, going three innigns and allowing two earned runs. She walked two and struck out none.
Williamson pitched three scoreless innings of relief, striking out two while walking two and allowing one hit.
The Dragons outhit Minot State 9-4 but left 12 runners stranded on base. MSUM had baserunners on during every inning but lacked the key hit to score runs.
York had a productive day at the plate for MSUM, going 5-for-7 in the two games.
MSUM is at Northern State for a doubleheader on Thursday.
