TUCSON, Ariz. – MSU Moorhead softball earned a Friday split in two more contests at the D2 Cactus Classic in Tucson, Arizona. MSUM would defeat San Francisco State, 4-2 before falling to Hawai'i-Hilo 3-1 to close the afternoon. 
 
Dragons 4, Gators 2
 
MSUM would jump out in front early in the first inning as Avery Steffen would find base on a Gator error. Steffen would eventually score off an Evey Evans double, which put herself and Azalya Lopez (who had singled an at-bat prior) into scoring position. Mack Gallagher would then single herself to bring around both Lopez and Evans. 
 
Later in the inning, MSUM would load the bases with no outs thanks to a single from Annika Norman. While the Dragons would get picked off a second base in the next at-bat, Sam Centeno would draw a walk to re-load the bags with one down. Unfortunately for the Dragons, San Francisco State slinger Mari Takeda Bajan would force MSUM into a double play. However, MSUM would lead 3-0 behind four hits in the top of the first. The Gators would get a run back on Dragon starter Teagan Clemmons to trail 3-1 through an inning of play.
 
The Dragons would load the bases again in the second inning behind a trio of singles from Steffen, Evans and Gallagher. Yet, MSUM could not push anything across as the Dragons had left five on-base through two innings. In the top of the fourth, MSUM would tack on another run on a fielder's choice. However, the Dragons would once again leave the bases loaded in the visiting half of the frame. San Francisco State would score a run in the bottom half to cut the Dragons lead in half, 4-2.
 
That 4-2 lead would carry into the final inning as Azalya Lopez would look to shut the game down in the bottom of the seventh.  While the sophomore would surrender a two-out double in the inning, she would rally back to strike out San Francisco State's final chance at tying the game. Lopez earned the save in a 4-2 Dragon win. 
 
Dragons 1, Vulcans 3
Full box score to be provided as it becomes available. 
 
The Dragons would score their lone run of the contest in the fifth inning as Sam Centeno would reach base on a Vulcan fielding error. Later in the frame, Lizzy Davis would drive Grace Oeltjen (pinch running for Centeno) in on an RBI groundout. Oeltjen would steal second with Chloe Makinney pushing her to third base on a sacrifice bunt prior to the Davis RBI. The Vulcans would score a run in the first inning and would break the 1-1 tie in the sixth inning with two runs to win 3-1. 
 
Up Next
 
MSUM (5-3) continues play at the D2 Cactus Classic tomorrow with games against Western New Mexico and Davis & Elkins College. First pitch against the Mustangs begins at 2 p.m. with game two against the Senators kicking off directly following.