MINOT, N.D – MSU Moorhead softball would score a combined 17 runs while only surrendering one as the Dragons began 2024 with a pair of wins at the Minot State Bubble Invite. 
 
 MSUM took game one over Dakota Wesleyan, 11-1 before defeating Valley City State 6-0 to conclude their Saturday. 
 
Dragons 11, Tigers 1
 
The Dragons would command the early innings as Evey Evans would collect the first hit of the season for MSUM in the bottom of the first. Evans would make it all the way to third base following a single from Mack Gallagher, but the Dragons were unable to push a run across. 
 
Teagan Clemmons was superb in the circle for the Dragons all morning as she would strike out four Tigers in the first two innings. MSUM would get on the board first in the bottom half of the inning as Sam Centeno would lead off the frame with a walk. Centeno would move into scoring position following a fielder's choice before fellow freshman Chloe Makinney stepped to the dish. The Kapolei, Hawaii, native would smash a single to score Centeno and break the scoreless tie. 
 
Makinney would later steal second to move herself into scoring position. From there, Zumbrota's own, Avery Steffen would notch a triple to left field to bring Makinney home. After two innings, MSUM led 2-0. Clemmons would strike out the side in the top of the third to keep the Tigers at bay while the Dragon bats began to stir.
 
It was in the bottom of that inning where MSUM opened the game up. Azalya Lopez would single to begin the inning while a pinch running Grace Oeltjen did what she does best: steal bases. The sophomore landed on second base as Olivia Goderis (walk) and Centeno (single) would load the bags for the Dragons. Annika Norman would single in the next at-bat to drive in two runs. With the bases loaded again later in the inning, senior Lizzy Davis would drive in two more with a single of her own. 
 
Gallagher would step to the plate with the bases jammed again in the inning and would double to score two more and push the Dragon lead to eight runs. Lopez would cap the scoring spree in the third inning with a triple, which would score Hannah Losee and Evey Evans. After three frames, MSUM led 10-0. 
 
MSUM would only coast from there despite Dakota Wesleyan scoring their first run in the top of the fourth. The Dragons would score another run in the bottom half as Evans drew out a walk to score Eliyah McCarthy. Clemmons would seal the game in the top of the fifth with three consecutive strikeouts following at Tiger single to start the inning. 
 
The freshman Clemmons dazzled in her debut, twiriling all five innings and racking up 10 Tigers in the process. Clemmons surrendered just three hits in the game in 17 batters faces. MSUM would claim a run rule win 11-1. 
 
Dragons 6, Vikings 0
 
Both Evey Evans and Azalya Lopez would find base on singles to begin the game in the top of the first inning for MSUM. Olivia Goderis would score Evans on a single to give the Dragons a quick 1-0 lead. Sam Centeno would bring in MSUM's second run of the contest during the next at-bat. Lopez would start in the circle for MSUM in the game and would pitch a strong four innings, only surrendering a pair of hits with two strikeouts. While Lopez kept the Dragon lead at 2-0, Valley City State would limit MSUM's bats in the middle innings with the score remaining at 2-0 heading into the top of the fifth inning. 

Evans would single to begin the fifth inning to give MSUM a baserunner. Mack Gallagher would double to get two runners in scoring position for the Dragons, who were in search of an insurance run. Lopez would then drive Evans in with a sacrifice fly to push the Dragon lead to 3-0. That score would hold true until the top of the seventh when Evans crushed a solo home run to put the lead at 4-0. 

The Dragons would work out a pair of walks after that with both runners ending up in scoring position following a wild pitch. Centeno would pick up her second RBI of the game with a sacrifice fly to put MSUM up 5-0. Valley City State would give up an unearned run before the inning was over as MSUM led 6-0 heading into the final half inning. Evans would close down the game with a scoreless seventh inning with just two hits surrendered. 
 
Up Next
 
MSUM (2-0) is back inside the Minot State Bubble tomorrow afternoon for games against University of Providence (Mont.) at 12:30 p.m. and a non-conference battle with host Minot State at 2:45 p.m.