MOORHEAD, Minn. – A complete-game shutout by freshman pitcher Jordan Hall and five Dragon players had two hits as the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team topped Upper Iowa, 8-0 in Game 2 of a doubleheader on Saturday. The win gave MSUM a split on the day as Upper Iowa won the opener 2-0 in eight innings.

In the second game, freshman left fielder Madison Paige hit two doubles; she is now the all-time single-season record holder in MSUM school history with 16 doubles on the season. She has accomplished this despite missing several games with an injury. She broke a record of 14 set by Leah Davis in 2004.

In the opener, which was tied at 0-0 through seven innings, MSUM had chances but was unable to get the winning run across. In the second game, the offense delivered with 13 hits.

"We had our opportunities in the first game but couldn't capitalize," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "The difference in the second game was our ability to get base hits with runners on base. Both of our pitchers threw well today and we played great defense behind them in both games."
Hall pitched the first complete game shutout of her collegiate career, going the six innings. She struck out one and walked three while scattering six hits.

Senior second baseman Jill Fox was 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI for MSUM. Freshman Emma Dummer was 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI and two runs scored, while sophomore catcher Savanah Tweet was 2-for-3 with a run scored. Freshman left fielder Madison Paige was 2-for-4 with two doubles. Senior center fielder Carly Williamson was 2-for-4 with an RBI while senior first baseman Lauren Meeker and sophomore right fielder Aunica Novacek each had hits and RBI. Freshman designated hitter Payton Gaber was 1-for-2 with two runs scored.

After being unable to get the big hit in Game 1, MSUM broke through at the plate in Game 2. Gaber led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Tweet. Dummer singled to put runners on first and third. Fox delivered a big hit, a double over the center fielder's head , to score both runners and giving MSUM a 2-0 lead. Novacek followed with a single to score Fox to give MSUM a 3-0 lead.

The lead grew in the third. Paige led off with a double and scored on Meeker's RBI single. Gaber reached on a fielder's choice which forced a runner at second. Tweet singled, and both runners advanced ahead on a wild pitch. Dummer crushed a double to right field to score Tweet and Gaber, making it 6-0.  One out later, Novacek was hit by a pitch, and Williamson singled to right to make it 7-0.

MSUM put the game away in the sixth. Paige led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. Freshman Becky Volkert, pinch-hitting, walked. Paige was out at home on a fielder's choice for the second out. Senior third baseman Kristina Villalobos walked to load the bases. With two out, Fox hit a solid single to right to score Volkert, clinching the game for the Dragons by the eight-run rule.

In the opener, freshman Tori White pitched well in defeat. She held Upper Iowa scoreless for the first seven innings before surrendering two runs in the eighth inning.  She scattered 13 hits, striking out two while walking none.

The Dragons had five hits in the game; Dummer had a double, while sophomore shortstop Taylor Roddie, Meeker, Tweet and Gaber had hits.
MSUM had the bases loaded in the fifth inning with one out but was unable to get a run across. In the seventh, the Dragons  threatened with two out. Tweet singled, and Dummer followed with double to the left field fence. Tweet tried to score on the play but was thrown out to end the inning.

Upper Iowa scored twice in the eighth off of four hits to take the lead. MSUM brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth but a fly out ended the game.

MSUM hosts Winona State in a doubleheader at noon on Sunday to conclude the regular season. It will be Senior Day for the Dragons as five seniors will be honored prior to the games.