MOORHEAD, Minn. — A four-run rally in the fifth inning was key as the Minnesota State University Moorhead softball team recorded a 5-4 win over Concordia-St. Paul in Game 2 of a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader. The win gave MSUM a split on the day as Concordia-St. Paul won Game 1 by a 9-0 score.

It was the Dragons' first win over Concordia-St. Paul since April 10, 2016. And it helped seniors Elizabeth Johnson and Emma Dummer end their home careers with a win.

"Game 2 was the outcome we know we are capable of having," MSUM head coach Amanda Reckamp said. "It was good to see us bounce back with that level of a response - great defense, clutch offense, and a lot of grit.

In Game 2, junior second baseman Ally Helgoe was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI while junior first baseman Samantha Gjerde was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Dummer was 1-for-3 with a double an RBI while junior left fielder Shay Weber was 1-for-1 with two runs scored; she reached base all three times at the plate. Junior catcher Jordie McNeilly was 1-for-2 with a walk while senior center fielder Elizabeth Johnson was 1-for-3. 

Freshman Reece Dahl picked up her team-best fifth win of the season, firing a complete game. She allowed four earned runs, striking out three while walking three. 

MSUM led 1-0 after the first but CSP scored three runs over the next two innings to take a 3-1 lead. The four-run fifth started when junior shortstop Kaiya Sundeen reached on an error, and Johnson was hit by a pitch. Weber reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Dummer hit a fly ball that was ruled an infield fly that fell in shallow left; she was out but the runners advanced, allowing Sundeen to score.

Gjerde delivered a crucial hit, hitting a single up the middle that bounced off second base, scoring Weber and Johnson and putting the Dragons up 4-3. One out later, McNeilly singled, and Helgoe delivered a huge two-out RBI single to score Gjerde, putting MSUM up 5-3.

The fifth run proved huge as CSP threatened in the seventh. A single, followed by an RBI double, put the tying run on second with nobody out. But Dahl got the next three outs in order to end the threat.

MSUM also turned a key double play in the second to end a scoring threat for CSP.

"Reece came in on Day 2 this weekend after a rough outing yesterday and showed how well she can keep offenses limited to give us a chance," Reckamp said.  "Kaiya (Sundeen)and Ally played great up the middle and got us out of a few tight spots."

In the opener, Weber and junior right fielder Jordey Smith were each 1-for-2 while Dummer and Johnson were each 1-for-3. 

Junior Anna Lang took the loss for MSUM, giving up seven runs, four earned, in five innings. She walked one. Sophomore Ashtyn Jurging gave up two earned runs in 0.2 innings while sophomore Kiley Washnieski got the final out.

The game marked the home finale for Johnson and Dummer, who have combine to start 318 games in their Dragon careers. Dummer is MSUM's all-time leader in doubles and is in the top 10 in career hits and RBI. Johnson is in the top 10 in career sacrifice hits. 

"Elizabeth and Emma have been great leaders for us and it is tough to see them leave but as a coach you want to see seniors leave something in their teammates to keep things pushing forward. And they have accomplished that and more," Reckamp said. "They will be exceptional leaders after they finish their chapter as Dragons and head onto their next one."