ABERDEEN, S.D. – Junior second baseman Lexie Kennedy went 5-for-7 with a homer and three RBI on the day to help the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team earn a split with Minnesota Crookston. After losing the first game 7-4 MSUM came back with a 7-6 win in Game 2 in action at the Presentation Dome in Aberdeen, S.D.

The Dragons are now 8-12 overall and 1-1 in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference while the Golden Eagles fell to 5-19 overall and 1-1 in the league.
 
Kennedy went 2-for-3 with a homer and two RBI in the second game. Sophomore outfielder Madison Paige was 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI.  Freshman outfielder Elizabeth Johnson was 2-for-3 with two runs scored, while sophomore designated hitter Payton Gaber was 2-for-3 with an RBI. Freshman first baseman Ashley McCance was 1-for-3 with a double and two runs scored while senior Aunica Novacek had a double and also made a diving catch in the field.

Sophomore Tori White got the win, giving up six earned runs in five-plus innings. Freshman pitcher Becky Berth pitched two scoreless innings of relief to pick up her second save of the season.

MSUM was down 1-0 but a five-run rally in the third surged the Dragons into the lead. The rally started with two out as Johnson walked. McCance doubled to score her, and Gaber followed with a single. Paige hit a two-run double to right center to make it 3-1, and Kennedy delivered with a two-run homer to make it 5-1.

The Golden Eagles cut the lead to 5-3 but MSUM answered in the fourth. Johnson doubled, and McCance was hit by a pitch. Gaber singled to right to score Johnson, and Paige followed with a double to score McCance to make it 7-3.

The Dragon lead shrunk to 7-6 in the sixth. In the seventh UMC put the tying run on base but Berth retired the final three batters, including two by strikeout, to preserve the win.

"We had a huge two-out rally in the third and came up with several key hits that produced runs," MSUM head coach Kelsey Fehl said. "Lexie had a great day at the plate for us. Putting the ball in play and making solid contact was key for our lineup. Tori did a good job of hitting her spots and Becky came in and finished strong for us."

In the opener, the hits were even at 8-8 but the Dragons also left 10 runners on base, including leaving the bases loaded in the sixth and seventh innings.

"It took us a few innings to get going and make solid contact," Fehl said. "We had our chances later in the game but couldn't get that one big hit."

Kennedy was 3-for-4 with an RBI while Novacek was 2-for-4.  Sophomore right fielder Taylor Kelenic and Johnson each had RBI.  Gaber had a double while freshman pitcher Becky Berth and McCance added hits.

Berth took the loss, giving up six runs in six-plus innings. She struck out six and walked two. Gaber allowed one earned run in one inning of relief.

MSUM trailed 5-0 but rallied with a four-run sixth to cut the lead to one. Kennedy, Kelenic and Johnson had RBI in the inning. The Dragons had the bases loaded with two out but a groundout to second ended the threat. The Dragons loaded the bases in the seventh but a fielder's choice ended the game.

The Dragons face Bemidji State for a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday at the Presentation Dome.