MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball wrapped the first weekend of NSIC play on Saturday as the Dragons dropped a twinbill to visiting Minnesota State.
The Mavericks won a marathon game one by an 8-5 score in 11 innings before completing the sweep with an 11-2 win in five innings in game two.
Game One
It was MSUM who would find offensive success in the early innings as
Annika Norman would double home the game's first run in the first inning. The senior drove home
Jessie Henry, who led off the frame with a double. MSUM would only continue to apply the pressure in the second inning as
Teagan Pranchke would drive home
Lexie Wilson with an RBI double. Pranchke would later score on a single from
Avery Steffen.
Natalie Gonzalez would then get in on the fun with an RBI double of her own, which scored two runs. After two innings, MSUM led 5-0.
While Minnesota State would get three runs back over the third, fourth and fifth innings, MSUM starter
Teagan Clemmons would keep the Mavericks at bay as a whole. Heading into the seventh inning, MSUM led by a 5-3 to score. Minnesota State would earn a single to leadoff the seventh before cranking a two-run home run off Clemmons in the next at-bat. Neither team would score through the remainder of regulation with the squads needing extra innings to solve the gridlock.
In extra innings, both teams would have opportunities to take the lead, including MSUM loading the bases in the bottom of the eighth. However, neither team would register the coveted run. After Clemmons came out of the game,
Brynna Farman provided solid relief work for the Dragons in the circle. Minnesota State would eventually score three runs on three hits in the top of the 11th inning. The Dragons would be unable to respond despite Henry getting to second base after a double. Minnesota State would earn the marathon win, 8-5.
Game Two
After winning the first game in thrilling fashion, Minnesota State would continue to look sharp offensively. The Mavericks scored six runs on four hits in the first inning to take a commanding lead. The Dragons would get one back in the home half after Steffen tripled with one out, eventually scoring on a failed pickoff after a strikeout. Steffen would beat out the pickle to make the score 6-1 in favor of the Mavericks.
Minnesota State would strike again in the second inning, scoring three additional runs to lead 9-1. The Mavericks would plate another pair of runs in the third inning as they now led by ten runs, 11-1. In the home half of the third inning, Norman would drive in the game's final run on a single, which scored Gonzalez, who doubled earlier in the frame. MSUM would load the bases in the bottom of the fourth inning on four hits, but would not be able to bring a run across. Minnesota State held on to the 11-2 lead after five innings to invoke the run rule.
Up Next
MSUM (8-23, 0-4 NSIC) is on the road for three NSIC series, beginning against Northern State on Wednesday. First pitch from Aberdeen, S.D. is scheduled for 12 p.m.
