FREMONT, Calif. -- Following a week long stretch that saw games canceled and plenty of unpredictable moments, MSU Moorhead softball closed their Spring Break trip to California with a 5-2 win over Holy Names. 

The game took place at Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif., as opposed to Holy Names' Oakland campus, as was originally scheduled. The two teams also played just one game following harsh weather on Tuesday. The Dragons and Hawks originally had a doubleheader planned. 

Azalya Lopez was strong in the circle for MSUM throughout the contest, pitching five innings and ringing up four Hawks in her time pitching. Lopez, who was pitching in her home state of California, held a shutout through four innings before surrendering two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Despite the runs given up, Lopez had stellar control of her pitches in the game as she did not offer a base on balls in her five innings of work.

Jordey Brown-Smith would help the Dragons get on the board early in the game with a second-inning home run. The solo shot was Brown-Smith's third home run of the season and brings her RBI total to 10 so far this season. Last year, Brown-Smith had 11 RBIs all season. By game's end, the senior had went a perfect three-for-three from the plate with two runs scored. 

MSUM would open the game up in the top of the third inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Eliya Johnson, which scored Mack Gallagher from third base after she advanced on a passed ball. Lizzy Davis had scored on that passed ball to bring the score to 2-0. Johnson would make it 3-0 with the sac fly before MSUM would plate two more runs in the frame. Annika Norman drove in Brown-Smith on a double after Brown-Smith singled the at-bat prior. Avery Steffen would drive Norman in thanks to a ground-rule double of her own. 

Although Holy Names would bring in two runs in the bottom of the fifth, they ultimately could not overcome the five run deficit. Reece Dahl came on in relief of Lopez in the sixth inning and shut the door on the Hawks. Dahl did not surrender a hit in her two innings of work in the circle, forcing three fly-outs, two ground outs and a strikeout. The great relief performance solidified a 5-2 win for the Dragons. 

Up Next

MSUM (12-6) has now completed the non-conference portion of their schedule. The Dragons will open NSIC play against Northern State in Moorhead on March 28 beginning at 12 p.m.