| Box Score 2 WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team lost to Minnesota Duluth, 15-3 in five innings to open the 2016 regular season. Earlier in the day the Dragons rolled to a 16-3 exhibition win over Central Lakes. Both games were played at the West St. Paul Dome in St. Paul, Minn.

MSUM is 0-1 on the year.

In the game against UMD, senior left fielder Kristy Bruni was 2-for-2 with two RBI and a double. Junior center fielder Carly Williamson and freshman shortstop Taylor Roddie added doubles while junior third baseman Kristina Villalobos added a hit and an RBI.

Junior Morgan Nybo took the loss for MSUM, allowing eight earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. She struck out three and walked three. Senior Kristen Nordby pitched 1.1 perfect innings of relief.

The Dragons piled up the offense against Central Lakes, recording 22 hits in just five innings of action. Seven players had at least two hits. Leading the attack was Bruni, who was 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Villalobos was 3-for-3 with an RBI.  Williamson was 3-for-5 with two RBI while freshman catcher Savanah Tweet was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Junior second baseman Jill Fox was 3-for-4 with a double.

Roddie and Nordby were each 2-for-3. Freshman third baseman Morgan Anderson, sophomore first baseman Becca Ostby and junior right fielder Hannah Klug each had hits for MSUM while junior first baseman Lauren Meeker and freshman outfielder Kylee Bartholomay each had an RBI.

Nordby pitched two perfect innings to get the win, striking out all six batters she faced.  Freshman Aunica Novacek made her collegiate debut and went three innings, allowing three earned runs and five hits. She struck out one.

The Dragons led 3-0 after one inning and exploded for 10 runs in the second to build a 13-0 lead. They added two more runs in the third to make it 15-0 and MSUM was never threatened after that.

The Dragons will wrap up the Dragon-Beaver Battle on Tuesday at the West St. Paul Dome. They will face Bemidji State at 8 a.m. and Central Lakes (Exhibition) at 10 a.m.