MOORHEAD, Minn. – Following a contentious game one loss, the MSU Moorhead softball team turned in a rejuvenated effort in game two to earn a split with Minot State on Senior Day.
The Beavers took game one 3-2, snuffing out a late Dragon rally to take the game as MSUM would flex their muscles in game two with a 5-1 win. The Dragons honored seniors
Jordey Smith and
Kiley Washnieski following the contests as both seniors would hit two-baggers in their final home at-bats.
Game One
Pitching would be the star of the show in the early frames for both teams as Dragon pitcher
Reece Dahl and Minot State's Reegan Floyd would toss perfect games through three innings of play. The Beavers would open up the hit column in the fourth inning with a single and a double, which scored two runs to pull them in front 2-0. While the Beavers would only muster three hits in the entire game, all three resulted in runs for the visitors. The third came on a solo home run in the top of the seventh to stretch the Beaver lead to 3-0.
Floyd was sharp all day for the Beavers, only allowing one Dragon hit through the first six innings. With their backs against the wall, MSUM needed a rally in the final half frame.
Mack Gallagher began the inning with a double, followed by another
Eliya Johnson double which scored
Ella Holiman (who was pinch running for Gallagher). Johnson would move to third on a wild pitch with
Annika Norman driving her in on the ensuing at-bat with a single.
Avery Steffen would then push
Grace Oeltjen (pinch running for Norman) to third on another single. With both Oeltjen and Steffen in scoring position with two outs,
Evey Evans stepped to the plate with a chance to tie or win the game. Unfortunately for the Dragons, Evans flew out to right field on a well-hit ball. Floyd would hold on for the complete game win for Minot State.
Game Two
With their bats still warm from the back half of game one, the Dragons took advantage in the bottom of the second in game two.
Hannah Losee would break the 0-0 tie with a double which scored
Kiley Washnieski, who had singled earlier in the inning. On the other end,
Azalya Lopez would stifle the Beaver batters, only allowing two hits and collecting two strikeouts in her three and one-third innings of work in the circle.
The Dragons would strike again in the bottom of the fourth, scoring on a wild pitch and a
Lizzy Davis single which knocked in
Avery Steffen to put the Dragon lead at 3-0.
Evey Evans would limit Minot State after coming on in relief of Lopez to pitch a hitless fifth inning. MSUM would score again in the home half of the frame thanks to a sacrifice fly from Evans to score
Grace Oeltjen. Evans would then proceed to pitch another hitless inning in the top of the sixth.
MSUM would score their fifth and final run in the bottom of the sixth as
Jordey Smith would double in Davis for an insurance run. Evans would get into a little trouble in the top of the seventh, giving up three hits to Minot State. While the Beavers would plate a run on a sac fly of their own, Evans would eventually close down the game for a 5-1 win.
Up Next
MSUM (28-12, 16-6 NSIC) is on the road to finish the regular season this weekend with scheduled doubleheaders with Winona State and Upper Iowa. The four-game trip begins with the Warriors on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
