MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball rebounded from a sluggish game one to earn a game two win in 10 innings as the Dragons split their final home doubleheader with St. Cloud State.
SCSU owned game one, winning 5-0 before the Dragons won the marathon affair in game two, 4-3.
Game One
The Dragons would earn the first hit of the game in the home half of the first inning as
Azalya Lopez would double, but would not be brought around. After a strong first inning in the circle,
Teagan Clemmons would surrender the game's first run in the top of the second after an MSUM error. The Huskies would opt to bunt on four straight at-bats in the inning and would even score their run on a bunt single. St. Cloud State would keep the pressure on in the the third inning as the Huskies would notch a pair of singles, which would eventually bring across another run.
MSUM would be held without a hit in the second and third innings as the Dragons struggled to figure out Husky starter Emma Eickhoff. The Dragon offense would wake up in the bottom of the fourth inning after Clemmons stranded three Huskies on base in the top half. MSUM would follow suit, loading the base on hits from Lopez and
Mack Gallagher, followed by an
Eliya Johnson walk. Unfortunately for the Dragons, they would not push across any runs with St. Cloud State still leading 2-0.
St. Cloud State would gain some momentum after Eickhoff would get them out of the jam. The Huskies would score an additional three runs in the home half of the fifth to take a commanding 5-0 lead. While
Chloe Makinney would single in the bottom half, she would not cross home for MSUM.
Reece Dahl would come on in relief of Clemmons in the top of the sixth and pitch a hitless (and scoreless) frame. While Lopez would gather her third hit of the game in the bottom of the sixth, MSUM would still be unable to bring her home.
Emma Abbott would keep the Dragons within five runs, slinging a nice top of the seventh which included two strikeouts.
The Dragons would be unable to manage a hit in the final half inning as St. Cloud State would utilize small ball to win 5-0.
Game Two
St. Cloud State would keep the pressure on in game two, scoring a pair of runs on three hits against starter Lopez. The visitors would score again in the top of the second inning on an RBI double as well to lead 3-0. In the home half of that same inning, MSUM's offense would finally show some life as
Annika Norman would single with one out with Sam Ceteno walking in the next at-bat. From there, senior
Eliyah McCarthy would continue her strong weekend with an RBI single down the left field line to score Norman and make the count 3-1.
Lopez would settle in beginning in the third inning as she would surrender a leadoff walk before retiring three straight Huskies.
Lizzy Davis would earn a leadoff walk in the bottom of the third and would eventually give the Dragons another run after Johnson drove her in with a single. From there, Lopez would not give St. Cloud State a single baserunner across the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh innings, racking up a pair of strikeouts in the showing. In that same stretch, MSUM would be able to tie the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Johnson would begin the frame with another single, eventually moving to second on a bunt from Norman.
Mike Armitage would then place
Hannah Losee on second base for Johnson. Losee would move to third on a fly out from Centeno.
With two down in the inning,
Ella Holiman would provide the tying hit with a single which brought in Losee as the Dragon dugout exploded for Holiman's fourth RBI of the year. As Lopez continued to down Husky batters at will, MSUM would be unable to plate a winning run in the seventh inning, which meant there would be free softball at Nemzek Field. In the top of the eighth, Lopez would give St. Cloud State their first baserunner since the third inning on a single. However, the sophomore would close the inning before a run could be scored.
The Dragons came close to ending the game in the home half as Centeno would walk with two outs to give MSUM some life. Holiman would then single to move Centeno into scoring position. In the next at-bat, McCarthy would stripe a single up the middle with Centeno rounding third and heading home. However, St. Cloud State centerfielder Tenley Quesnell would laser a perfect throw to the plate, gunning down Centeno to end the inning. The call was reviewed and the out stood as the teams went to a ninth frame.
That momentum would give the Huskies a pair of baserunners with no one out before Lopez forced a pair of foul outs. The sophomore would end the inning with a pop out, but the Dragons would not put anything together in the bottom of the ninth. Lopez would retire the Husky side in the top of the 10th inning, providing MSUM another chance at victory.
With one out in the bottom half, Norman would score her second hit of the game on a single before Centeno was hit by a pitch. With one out in the inning, Holiman would step up looking to provide the game-winner. While it was not as orthodox of a game-winner as some may be used to, it all counted the same. Holiman would hit a ground ball to the shortstop, who looked to turn a double play. Centeno was called out at second base, but her slide proved enough push the Husky defense off-kilter. Holiman would beat the throw, but St. Cloud State would lose the ball anyway following Centeno's slide. The free play led to Norman rounding third and scoring. While Centeno's slide was reviewed for interference, no such call was made as Holiman would win the game for MSUM on the RBI fielder's choice.
Lopez pitched the 10-inning complete game, earning her 16th win of the season to go along with five strikeouts.
Up Next
MSUM (28-18, 15-9 NSIC) concludes the regular season on the road next weekend as the Dragons travel to take on Minnesota Crookston and Bemidji State. First pitch against the Golden Eagles is scheduled for 12 p.m. on Saturday, April 27.
