SIOUX FALLS, S.D. -- For the first time in program history, MSU Moorhead softball is heading to the NSIC Semifinals as the Dragons bum-rushed Minnesota State on Thursday morning. MSUM defeated the Mavericks 9-0 in five innings. 

With the win, MSUM moves their win total to 33, which is tied for the second-highest total in program history. Azalya Lopez collected her 19th win of the season, matching the single-season program record. 

Lopez would start the game off strong for MSUM, retiring the Maverick side in the top of the first inning. The sophomore closed the frame with her first strikeout of the contest. Chloe Makinney would be the game's first baserunner in the home half after being hit by a pitch, but the Dragons would not manage a hit on Maverick ace McKayla Armbruster. Minnesota State would gather the first hits of the ballgame in the top of the second on a pair of singles. However, MSUM would use their patented defensive potency as Annika Norman picked up an unassisted double play on a line out. 

The defensive effort would kickstart the Dragon bats in the bottom of the second inning. Eliya Johnson would begin the frame with a single before Norman scored a single of her own. Thanks to a Maverick error, Norman and Johnson would move into scoring position with no one out. With one out, senior Lizzy Davis would provide her biggest hit of the year to this point. singling in Johnson to put MSUM up 1-0. In the ensuing at-bat, Eliyah McCarthy would lay down a flawless bunt which would score Norman from third to put the lead at two runs. 

Evey Evans would get in on the rally with a single to load the bases with one out. Makinney would then step up and hammer a single into left center, which scored both Davis and McCarthy. The two RBI hit helped build a 4-0 Dragon advantage early in the contest. Lopez would surrender a single and a walk in the top of the third, but would avoid a Maverick run with a two-out pop-up. That effort from Lopez would translate into the home half as the Dragons continued to surge at the plate. 

Johnson would again begin the inning with a single before Norman reached on another Minnesota State error. With two on and no one out, Sam Centeno would advance both runners as Davis stepped up. The McLean, Ill., native, fresh off her NSIC Elite 18 Award presentation, would crack a double to right center, scoring both Johnson and Norman. With no one out in the inning, MSUM now led 6-0. 

The Dragons were not done there as McCarthy would single in the next at-bat to move Davis to third with Evans stepping to the plate. Evans, who must have had a premonition in the dugout prior to the at-bat, was ready to take a big cut at the first pitch from Sophia Del Vecchio. The senior tore into the offering and skied it to straightaway left field, clearing the fence and staying fair. The three-run dinger pushed the Dragons into run rule territory, as they led 9-0. However, coach Mike Armitage was adamant that the Dragons needed to keep their foot on the gas. 

Lopez do just that, setting down the Mavericks in order with a pair of fly outs and a strike out in the top of the fourth. While MSUM was retired in order in the bottom half, they sat three outs away from putting the game away.

The inning began with Evans making another tremendous play (this time in the field), with a sliding basket catch in right field for the first out. Lopez would earn the second out via fly out as the Dragons sat one out shy of victory. Minnesota State slashed a well-hit ball to shortstop, but Norman would make fine play, lunging to her right to make the diving catch. MSUM would command the game throughout, winning 9-0 in five innings. Davis and Evans combined for six of MSUM's runs batted in.

Up Next

MSUM (33-18) will await the winner of top-seeded Augustana and eighth-seeded St. Cloud State. The NSIC Semifinal matchup will take place at noon on Friday from Bowden Field.