ABERDEEN, S.D. -- MSU Moorhead dropped a pair of NSIC contests on Friday afternoon from the Aberdeen Dome to Concordia, St. Paul.

The Golden Bears defeated the Dragons 16-6 in game one before claiming game two with a late-inning rally, 4-2. 

Game One

Concordia, St. Paul would race out to a 3-0 lead on starter Eliya Johnson with a trio of runs in the top of the second inning. A passed ball helped the Golden Bears bring those runs across as MSUM would not answer until the third frame. Johnson and Mack Gallagher would find base in the inning on a pair of walks before Azalya Lopez put the Dragons on the board with an RBI single. The Golden Bears would showcase their potent offense thereafter, plating four more runs in the top of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 7-1. Credit goes to the Dragons, who would whittle that deficit down in the home half. Chloe Makinney and Eliyah McCarthy would begin the inning with a pair of singles. From there, senior Evey Evans would drive Makinney home with a single of her own. 

Following the Evans RBI, Lizzy Davis would lay down a flawless bunt which turned into an infield hit for the senior. It also loaded the bases for the Dragons with no one out. Eliya Johnson would crush a no-doubter home run in the next at-bat for MSUM. However, the fences were not of a certain height or length in the dome environment, meaning home runs were scored as ground rule doubles*. Thus, Johnson's smack was scored as such, driving in two more runs for the Dragons to make the score 7-4. Gallagher would bring the Dragons to within two runs before the inning was over on a sacrifice fly. 

The Golden Bears would stay on the offensive throughout game one as they would score an additional five runs across the fifth and sixth innings to lead 12-5. MSUM would score once more in the home half of the sixth inning as Gallagher drove home Johnson (who had again hit a home run that was scored a ground rule double) on a single. Concordia, St. Paul would command the game from there, scoring four more runs to win the contest 16-6. 

Note: Northern State and Winona State, who played inside the Aberdeen Dome as well, played the same rulings regarding home runs. All coaches agreed to the alteration. 

Game Two

MSUM would respond well in game two after struggling in the circle in game one. The Golden Bears would net one run on a sacrifice fly on Dragon starter Azalya Lopez to lead 1-0. The Dragon offense would come alive in the home half of the second inning as Lopez would earn a one-out single before being driven home on an RBI double from Sam Centeno. While that would tie the score at one run apiece, the Dragons were not done in the frame as Annika Norman would move Centeno to third base on a single in the ensuing at-bat. Before the inning was over, Makinney would drive Centeno in on an RBI single, putting MSUM in front 2-1. 

Lopez would continue her strong string of starts for the Dragons with the lead in their back pocket. The sophomore would sling five and two-thirds innings for the Dragons, only surrendering six hits and an earned run. Lopez would also fan five Golden Bears before running into trouble in the top of the sixth inning. Concordia, St. Paul would load the bases with two outs as Lopez was pulled for freshman Teagan Clemmons. Needing a vital out, Clemmons twirled a swinging strikeout to preserve the 2-1 MSUM lead. The Dragons would not be able to push across a needed insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. 

Leading 2-1, MSUM would fall victim to a late Concordia, St. Paul rally in the top of the seventh. A leadoff single followed by a pinch hit double and another single would even the score at two runs each. The Golden Bears would then run a successful squeeze bunt to take a 3-2 lead with only one out. Before the inning was over, CSP had plated an additional run to lead 4-2 with the Dragons needing some heroics for a victory. Centeno would begin the frame with a single before the Dragons earned two quick outs. With one out to give, Makinney would smash a ground-rule double to put herself and Ella Holiman (pinch running for Centeno) in scoring position. Concordia, St. Paul would use timely pitching to earn the final out and collect a series sweep. 

Up Next

MSUM (16-12, 3-3 NSIC) is back inside the Aberdeen Dome tomorrow for a doubleheader against Winona State which is slated to begin at noon.