ROSEMONT, Ill. – MSU Moorhead softball dropped a pair of games on day two of the Dome Invitational.
MSUM began the day in a 5-4 loss to Upper Iowa before falling to Hillsdale College, 7-5.
Game One
MSUM would gather its first hit of the contest in the bottom of the second off the bat of
Eliya Johnson. The senior would make it all the way to third base but would not be brought home. Dragon starter
Bella Hess was strong through four innings, not surrendering a run and just three hits in total.
Teagan Pranchke would make it third base in the bottom of the third, but again, MSUM could not manage a run.
The Peacocks would get to Hess in the top of the fifth inning, plating four runs on three hits. However, MSUM had two errors in the frame, which resulted in two unearned runs. The Dragons would respond in the home half, scoring a pair of runs.
Chloe Christie would triple with one out before
Avery Steffen drove her home on a single. Steffen would score with two outs after an RBI single from
Annika Norman.
Upper Iowa would score again in the top of the sixth to extend their lead to three runs. MSUM would get that run back in the home half after Johnson cranked a solo home run. In the final half inning, MSUM would have the chance to win the contest. Steffen singled before stealing second base, trailing by two runs.
Natalie Gonzalez would walk in the next at-bat to bring the go-ahead run to the plate.
While Norman would drive Steffen in again on a single, Gonzalez would only get to second base before the Peacocks closed the game. Upper Iowa would survive the late Dragon rally to win, 5-4.
Game Two
Norman would get the Dragons going in game two on a single, the first hit of the ballgame. Hillsdale would earn their first hit of the game in the bottom of the third, but
Teagan Clemmons would not allow a run in the frame. In the bottom of the fourth inning, Hillsdale jumped up by two runs after a two-run home run off Clemmons.
While the Dragon bats were kept at bay, Hillsdale would strike again in the fifth inning, scoring an additional run to lead, 3-0. MSUM would come alive in the top of the sixth as Pranchke walked and Clemmons reached base on a single. Norman would drive in Pranchke to spark a four-run inning for MSUM.
Jessie Henry would drive home a pair of runs thanks to a double before the Dragons took a lead after a Hillsdale error.
Hillsdale would respond, however, scoring four runs in the bottom of the sixth on four hits. Heading into the final inning, MSUM trailed, 7-4. While the Dragons would threaten in the final half frame, MSUM would only score one run, eventually falling, 7-5.
Up Next
The Dragons (6-9) wrap action at the Dome Invitational tomorrow afternoon in games against Parkside and Truman State. Contests begin at 1:30 p.m.
