WINONA, Minn. –  A solo homer by freshman shortstop Taylor Roddie and an RBI single by freshman catcher Savanah Tweet proved to be the difference as the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team topped Winona State, 3-2 in Game 1 of a doubleheader on Saturday in Winona, Minn. The Dragons ended up with a split on the day as Winona State won the second game, 3-0.

MSUM is now 14-24 overall and 7-15 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, while Winona State is 29-13 and 11-8 in the league.

Senior pitcher Morgan Nybo had another strong outing for MSUM in the opener, going the distance. She allowed two earned runs in seven innings, striking out seven while walking four.  MSUM did not commit an error in the field in the doubleheader against the Warriors, who were the preseason NSIC favorite and are currently ranked ninth in the region.

The Game 1 victory was MSUM's first over Winona State since May 4, 2007.

"It is always great to beat quality programs like Winona State," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "Morgan Nybo did a great job keeping their hitters off balance. We played very solid defense behind her as well."

In the opener, freshman Taylor Roddie was 1-for-4 with a homer, while senior second baseman Kristen Nordby was 1-for-2 with an RBI. Freshman catcher Savanah Tweet was 1-for-3 with an RBI, which proved to be the game-winner. Junior center fielder Carly Williamson was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Junior third baseman Kristina Villalobos, Nybo and junior first baseman Lauren Meeker each had hits for MSUM. Freshman Aunica Novacek, who pinch-ran for Villalobos, scored a run.

Winona State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. The Dragons tied the game in the fourth. Williamson doubled and moved to third on a fly out. Nordby singled up the middle to score Williamson, tying the contest at 1-1.

With two out in the sixth, Roddie broke the tie with her first homer of the season, a solo shot to left, to make it 2-1 in favor of MSUM.

The Dragons scored what proved to be a huge run in the seventh. Villalobos led off with a single and was pinch-ran for by Novacek. Junior Jill Fox walked to put runners on first and second with nobody out. One out later, Nybo singled up the middle to load the bases. Tweet then came up with a critical hit, a single up the middle to score Novacek, giving MSUM a 3-1 lead.

"We came up with a couple of huge hits offensively when we needed them in the final innings," Fehl said.

Winona State rallied in the seventh, thanks to a two-out RBI single. However, with the tying run on first, Nybo got Keegan to ground out to second to end the game, preserving a one-run win for MSUM.

In the second game, MSUM managed just two hits against Winona State starter McKenna Larsen, who struck out four and walked two. Nordby and Nybo each had hits for MSUM, while Williamson and Villalobos reached base via walks.

Nordby took the loss, going six innings and allowing three earned runs. She struck out six and walked three. Winona scored two runs in the first and added another in the second to build a 3-0 lead.

The Dragons looked to mount a threat in the seventh. With one out, Villalobos walked, but a pair of groundouts ended the game.

MSUM wraps up the weekend on Sunday at Upper Iowa. The doubleheader begins at noon in Fayette, Iowa.