ABERDEEN, S.D. -- MSU Moorhead sophomore Azalya Lopez would sling her second shutout of the season to help Dragon softball to a doubleheader split with Winona State on Saturday afternoon. The games were played inside the Aberdeen Dome. 

Fielding woes marred the Dragons in game one, which Winona State won 5-0 before Lopez tossed her shutout, leading to a 3-0 Dragon win to close the day. 

Game One

Winona State would employ most of the offense in the first game as the Dragons did not earn a hit until the bottom of the second inning on a Sam Centeno single. However, it would not turn into any runs for MSUM, who fell victim to four strikeouts from Warrior starter Izzy Howe in the first two frames. Winona State would score the game's inaugural run in the top of the third inning as the Dragons had a pair of fielding errors which translated to a run on MSUM starter Evey Evans. The Dragons would have three errors in the first three innings of play. Lizzy Davis would score a hit in the home half of the third, but would not cross home as Howe was stingy all game. 

Evans would pitch well in four innings of work, surrendering just four hits in 18 batter faced. In the bottom of the fourth, Howe would strikeout two more Dragons with Annika Norman earning a single in the frame, which did not result in a run. The Warriors would use Howe's solid effort to their advantage in the fifth inning as they would score three runs on four hits. Winona State would threaten with the bases loaded and two outs before Kaelyn Leverson would get the Dragons out of the jam with a popup to end the inning. Howe would retire the Dragons in order, including two more strikeouts, in the home half of the fifth. Reece Dahl would pitch a seamless sixth to keep the Warriors off the board. The Dragons would put a runner in scoring position after Chloe Makinney reached based after being hit by a pitch. Makinney would steal second, but would not be brought around.

Winona State would score an additional run in the final inning on just one hit as the Warriors found base on walks and fielder's choices. Emma Abbott would end the inning with a strikeout as Winona State had the bases jammed. Lizzy Davis would give the Dragons a final sign of life in the bottom half, but Howe proved too potent all game. The Warrior ace pitched a complete game shutout while striking out 11 Dragons in a the 5-0 Winona State win. 

Game Two

MSUM would enter game two with a renewed sense of energy as Azalya Lopez entered the circle as the Dragon starter. Lopez would place two Warriors on base in the first inning, but would earn all three outs via strikeout to keep Winona State off the board. The Dragons would use the momentum to plate three runs in the home half of the first. Makinney would reach base on an error and would steal second again to get into scoring position. Eliya Johnson would single Makinney in to put the Dragons up one run. From there, Johnson would reach third base following a double from Mack Gallagher. Norman would double in the next at-bat for MSUM, which would push Johnson across and move Hannah Losee (pinch running for Gallagher) to third. Evey Evans would then lay down a perfect bunt to bring Losee home and provide the Dragons a 3-0 lead. 

From there, it was The Lopez Show as she would keep the Warriors off the scoreboard in the second and third innings with four strikeouts. Lopez would strike out the side in the top of the third inning. MSUM would threaten in the bottom of the third after finding bases on two more Warrior errors, but it would not result in any runs. After surrendering a leadoff double in the fourth, Lopez would down three straight Warriors to keep the visitors scoreless. The sophomore would retire the side again in the fifth inning, earning another strikeout. In the bottom of the fifth, MSUM would earn singles from Eliyah McCarthy and Makinney with McCarthy reaching third base. With one out, Winona State would get out of the jam thanks to a double play as Johnson would ground out and McCarthy would get caught trying to score as that unfolded. 

Lopez would give up a one-out single in the top of the sixth before the Dragons would put together an amazing display of teamwork to close the frame. Winona State would smack a ball that looked to be a double in the gap. However, McCarthy would track the ball the whole way and make the catch for the second out before immediately firing a laser to first base to eliminate the Warrior runner (who assumed a base hit and was advancing to second) and end the inning. The dazzling play left head coach Mike Armitage leaping in happiness as the Dragons remained in front 3-0. With three outs left, Lopez would retire the side with a pair of strikeouts, including a game-clinching cross out with two outs. The sophomore turned in a complete game shutout for the second time this season, surrendering four hits while fanning 10 Warriors with just one base on balls. 

Up Next

MSUM (17-13, 4-4 NSIC) will return to Moorhead for a true home doubleheader with Northern State on Tuesday, April 2 beginning at 1 p.m. The games will be played on SCHEELS Field at Nemzek Stadium.