MOORHEAD, Minn. – The Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team split a doubleheader with Minnesota Crookston on Sunday. The Dragons won the opening game, 9-3 while the Golden Eagles prevailed in the second game, 2-1.

MSUM is now 7-16 overall and 2-4 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while UMC is 11-16-1 overall and 1-4-1 in the league.
The doubleheader was moved to Moorhead because of wet field conditions in Crookston.

Freshman pitcher Becky Volkert fired the first complete game of her Dragon career, striking out five while walking one. She allowed three runs, but only one was earned, along with six hits. She is now 3-2 on the season.

Freshman left fielder Madison Paige had a huge game, going 4-for-5 with three RBI for the first four-hit game of her collegiate career. Senior center fielder Carly Williamson was 3-for-5 with two RBI. Freshman designated hitter Payton Gaber had a big game at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Senior second baseman Jill Fox was 2-for-4 with an RBI while sophomore shortstop Taylor Roddie was 2-for-5 with two RBI. Senior first baseman Lauren Meeker had a hit for MSUM, which smacked out 15 in the win.

"The first game we did a great job of being aggressive offensively and we were able to score runs," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "Becky threw a great game to get us the win."

MSUM was the visiting team in both games, since UMC was the original host site.

Paige hit an RBI single in the first to score Williamson, who had singled, to give MSUM a 1-0 lead. UMC scored twice in the bottom of the first, with one of the runs being unearned, to take a 2-1 lead.

The Dragons regained the lead for good in the fourth. With one out, Fox singled, and Gaber followed with a single. A flyout to center advanced Fox to third. Williamson reached on an infield single to score Fox. Roddie reached on an error to load the bases. Paige singled to score Gaber, making it 3-2.

MSUM broke the game open in the fifth, Freshman third baseman Emma Dummer walked, and sophomore catcher Savanah Tweet reached on an error. Dummer moved to third on a passed ball and scored on Fox's single to left. Gaber singled to left to load the bases. One out later, after a fielder's choice forced out a runner at home, Williamson reached on a fielder's choice to score Fox. Roddie and Paige followed with back to back R BI singles to make it 7-2. Roddie later scored on an error to make it 8-2.

UMC got an unearned run back in the fifth, the Dragons added an insurance run in the seventh. Gaber singled and was moved to second on a passed ball. Gaber moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Taylor Kelenic and scored on Roddie's RBI single, making it 9-3.
Volkert sent down the side in order in the seventh to preserve the win.

In the second game, Meeker was 2-for-3 with an RBI while Gaber was once again 2-for-3. Williamson was 1-for-4 with a run scored.

Freshman Jordan Hall had the best game of her collegiate career, allowing just two earned runs in 6.2 innings. She struck out five and walked two and surrendered five hits.

The Dragons had five hits but left seven runners on base.

MSUM's run came in the top of the first when Meeker hit an RBI single to score Williamson. UMC tied the game at 1-1 in the first. The game was a pitching duel between Hall and Klaphake, but the Golden Eagles scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a two-out double to take the 2-1 win.

"In the second game we definitely had opportunities but we left too many runners on base," Fehl said. "Jordan threw really well. They just came up with a big hit at the end."

MSUM hosts Minnesota Duluth for a 2 p.m. doubleheader on Tuesday.