MINOT, N.D. – MSU Moorhead softball earned another split on Saturday afternoon at the Minot State Bubble Invite.
The Dragons would fall in game one to the University of Providence (7-4) before earning a run rule victory to close the day. MSUM topped UMary, 10-1, in game two of the day.
Game One
Neither team would find a run until the third inning when the Dragon bats began the scoring.
Olivia Goderis led off the frame with a double and would steal third shortly thereafter.
Avery Steffen would drive Goderis in two at-bats later to bring MSUM a 1-0 lead. Steffen would eventually be brought home by a Argo throwing error. Providence would respond in the home half, plating five runs to lead 5-2.
The top of the fourth inning saw
Lexie Wilson hit her second home run in as many days to lead off the frame. Wilson's solo shot cut the Providence lead to two runs, 5-3. The Dragons would score again in the fifth inning thanks to an RBI double from
Eliya Johnson. Johnson's strike drove home
Annika Norman, who walked earlier in the inning.
Providence would bring around another pair of runs in the home half of the fifth to lead 7-4. While Wilson would drive in a run with a double in the seventh, MSUM would be unable to fully come back. The Argos claimed the game, 7-4.
Game Two
It was MSUM who would respond after the game one loss against UMary. The Dragons plated two runs in the top of the first inning as Steffen began the game with a single. Steffen would eventually score on a wild pitch with
Annika Norman scoring later in the inning on a double from Johnson.
Steffen would drive the pace in the circle as well, setting the Marauders down in order in the bottom half. The Dragons would bring across three more runs in the top of the second frame. Goderis would make it third before stealing home on a double steal.
Teagan Pranchke would bring home Steffen on a single before Johnson drove in another run on a single.
After Steffen held the Marauders hitless again, MSUM only continued their offensive attack.
Jessie Henry earned an RBI on a double, which scored
Natalie Gonzalez. Steffen would triple in the next at-bat, scoring Henry and Goderis. The senior would score in the next at-bat after a ground out from Pranchke.
MSUM would score again in the top of the fifth as Steffen again drove home a run on a double. Steffen would hold a no-hitter heading into what was potentially the final half inning. While the Marauders would earn three hits and a run, they would only come to within nine runs after the inning. The Dragons claimed a 10-1 run rule win as Steffen finished the contest with five strikeouts.
Up Next
MSUM (2-2) wraps up the Minot State Bubble Invite tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader against Black Hills State. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m.
