CROOKSTON, Minn. – MSU Moorhead softball collected a valuable NSIC sweep of Minnesota Crookston on Thursday afternoon with both contests needing extra frames. The Dragons picked up their 30th win on the season and made program history in the process. 
 
MSUM would come back in the seventh inning to eventually steal game one in nine innings, 6-2. Game two would also go into extras with the Dragons escaping with a 2-1 win in eight frames.
 
The sweep moves the Dragons to 30-18 overall and 17-9 in NSIC play. For the first time in program history, MSUM has now posted back-to-back 30-win seasons. 
 
Game One
 
Pitching would dominate much of the early innings as Annika Norman would get the game's first hit in the top of the second inning. Dragon starter Azalya Lopez would hold the Golden Eagles without a hit through the first two innings, striking out a batter in that stretch. MSUM would threaten first in the top of the third following a single from Evey Evans. The senior would make it to third base with two outs but would not come across. 
 
Minnesota Crookston would get their first hit of the game in the home half of the third. Lopez would dole out a one-out walk before an RBI single broke the scoreless tie, putting the Golden Eagles up 1-0. Minnesota Crookston would turn up the pitching intensity from there, setting the Dragons down in order in the fourth and fifth innings. 
 
The Golden Eagles would use that their advantage in the home half of the fifth as they would earn a leadoff single. With two outs and a runner on second, MSUM would fall victim to a costly error, which scored the runner from second. Heading into the sixth inning, UMC led 2-0. While MSUM would get a runner on in the top of the sixth, they would not be able to bring any runs across. Lopez would keep the Golden Eagle lead at two runs heading into the final inning thanks to two strikeouts. 
 
Things did not look particularly positive for MSUM in the seventh as they would register two quick outs. With one out left to give, Norman would collect another hit with a single. In the ensuing at-bat, Sam Centeno would show great discipline at the dish, leading to a walk to put two runners on. Hannah Losee would enter the game as a pinch runner for Centeno with Evans stepping to the plate. 
 
Following a rough weekend at the plate last week, Evans completely redeemed herself with MSUM's back against the wall. The senior would stripe a double to centerfield, which brought home both Norman and the speedy Losee. Despite being down to their final out, MSUM had managed to tie the game at two runs each. For the second straight game, MSUM would enter extra innings.
 
While MSUM was set down in order in the eighth, Lopez would run into a snag in the bottom half. The sophomore would give up a one-out single with the runner moving into scoring position on a sacrifice. Lopez would put another runner on in the next at-bat after a base on balls. As she has done all year, Lopez would get the timely out to end the inning and keep the game tied. 
 
The Dragons would put together their best inning of the afternoon in the ninth as Eliya Johnson and Norman would each single with one out. Centeno would advance both runners on a sacrifice in the next at-bat. MSUM would load the bases with two outs after Evans walked. 
 
With the bases jammed, the always timely Eliyah McCarthy would keep her streak of clutch hitting going with a single. The hit scored both Johnson and Norman to give the Dragons a 4-2 advantage. MSUM was not done there as Chloe Makinney would reload the bases after working out a walk of her own. In the next at-bat, senior Lizzy Davis would single to score Evans from third base as McCarthy would score on a wild pitch shortly after. With three outs needed, MSUM led 6-2. 
 
In the bottom of the ninth, Lopez would collect another extra inning complete game, setting down the Golden Eagles in order. Lopez would cap the game with a strike out, her eighth of the contest. The sophomore gathered her 17^th win of the year as the Dragons held on, 6-2. 
 
Game Two
 
Lopez would earn the second game's first hit in the first inning on a single but would not score. Evans began the game in the circle for MSUM and while she would give up a leadoff hit, the senior would rally to keep the Golden Eagles off the board. In the second inning, Evans would set Minnesota Crookston down in order on three straight ground outs. 
 
Centeno would lead off the third inning for the Dragons and earn another walk. The freshman would move to third base on back-to-back sacrifices. With two outs, Lopez would hit a single to score Centeno from third base and put MSUM up 1-0. Minnesota Crookston would even the count in the home half following a Dragon error, leading to an unearned run crossing home. 
 
Freshman Teagan Clemmons would come on to relieve Evans in the fourth inning as the Las Vegas, Nev., native would keep UMC off the scoreboard. Clemmons would give up a two-out single but would rally back to earn a punch out to close the frame. The freshman would run into a jam in the fifth after giving up a leadoff single. Minnesota Crookston would eventually get runners to second and third with two outs. However, Clemmons would earn another inning-ending strike out to stave off the Golden Eagles. 
 
In the top of the sixth, Lopez would single and would eventually make it to third base with one out. Unfortunately, MSUM would fall victim to a double play to end the inning, thus neutralizing the initial threat from Lopez. Minnesota Crookston would use that as they would collect a one-out triple in the bottom of the sixth. 
 
With one out and a runner on third base, the Golden Eagles would hit a grounder to Mack Gallagher. Rather than throwing to first for the out, Gallagher faked the throw, which pulled the runner on third off the base as she looked to score. The trickery worked as Gallagher was able to lunge at the Minnesota Crookston runner and tag her out. Clemmons would close the inning with a pop up. 
 
The Dragons would be held hitless in the top of the seventh inning, leaving the Golden Eagles an opportunity to win the game in the home half. Minnesota Crookston would grab a leadoff single before moving that runner into scoring position on a sacrifice. MSUM would showcase their defensive ability again to end the inning, forcing the Golden Eagles into a peculiar 6-4-5 double play. For the third straight contest, MSUM would head into extra frames.
 
The defense would translate to offense for MSUM in the top of the eighth inning as Lizzy Davis would walk with two outs. Davis proceeded to steal second base with Lopez at the plate. With a runner in scoring position, Lopez knocked in Davis on an RBI single to put MSUM up 2-1. Gallagher would single in the next at-bat, but Lopez would be thrown out at the plate on a great showcase from the Golden Eagles defense. 
 
Minnesota Crookston would not go away quietly in the home half as they would get runners at second and third with one out. Clemmons would lock in from there and post back-to-back strike outs to secure the win for MSUM. The freshman collected her eighth pitching decision of the year in the victory.  
 
Up Next
 
MSUM (30-18, 17-9 NSIC) turns right around and wraps up the 2024 regular season tomorrow afternoon in a road doubleheader against Bemidji State. First pitch is scheduled for noon.