DULUTH, Minn. – MSU Moorhead softball earned a conference split with Minnesota Duluth on Saturday. Senior
Avery Steffen tied the single-season hits record with her 65
th of the season.
The Bulldogs would claim game one in six innings, 11-3. MSUM would earn the series split after winning game two, 6-4.
Game One
The first inning saw both starting pitchers settle in as
Brynna Farman would not allow a hit or baserunner. In the top of the second inning,
Eliya Johnson would double to leadoff the inning and provide the Dragons a baserunner. Johnson would later score on a Bulldog error to give MSUM a 1-0 advantage early on. Minnesota Duluth would grab the lead right back in the home half, plating two runs on four hits and an MSUM error.
MSUM would answer right back as
Teagan Pranchke began the frame with a single, before moving into scoring position. After
Avery Steffen walked, both runners would enter scoring position. Johnson would drive home Pranchke in the next at-bat on a single to equalize the game at two runs. In the ensuring at-bat, Steffen would cross home on a steal attempt from Johnson, putting the Dragons back up 3-2. The score for Steffen was her 42
nd of the season, a new single-season school record.
The Bulldogs would regain the lead in the home half after scoring two runs on three more hits. Minnesota Duluth would hold the Dragons without a hit in the fourth inning before scoring an additional run in the bottom half.
Jessie Henry would collect a single in the fifth frame, eventually positioning herself on second after a stolen base. However, MSUM would not be able to cut into the deficit. The home team would score another three runs on three hits to take a commanding 8-3 lead heading into the sixth.
MSUM would get a baserunner on in the sixth after a single from
Lexie Wilson, but again the Dragons went without a run. Minnesota Duluth would score three runs in the home half of the sixth to conclude the game via run rule, 11-3.
Game Two
It was the Bulldogs who opened game two with a run in the bottom of the first inning. Johnson would single for the Dragons in the second inning, but MSUM would strand two on base without a run. Minnesota Duluth would plate another run in the home half to lead, 2-0.
MSUM would get runners on in the third inning thanks to a pair of walks. The Dragons would score their first run of the game on a Bulldog error. After Steffen earned a single, the Dragons would eventually load the bases with one out. After the Bulldogs earned a force out,
Natalie Gonzalez would hit a single to score two runs and grab the lead, 3-2. The Bulldogs would equalize in the home half.
The Dragons would threaten again in the fourth inning after
Hailey Thurber and
Mary Schmidt reached base. With runners in scoring position, it was Pranchke who came up with the crucial single to score Thurber. Steffen would drive home another Dragon run a few at-bats later on a sacrifice fly. Steffen would hold the Bulldogs without a hit in the bottom half as MSUM led 5-3.
MSUM's lead would hold heading into the bottom of the sixth with Steffen still in the circle. The senior would sling a scoreless sixth to help keep the Dragon lead at two runs heading into the final frame. Steffen would help her own cause in the seventh with a one-out single. The hit was Steffen's 65
th of the season, which ties the single-season school record. The senior would eventually come around to score on a passed ball later in the inning.
Minnesota Duluth would score a run in the bottom half of the seventh before Steffen earned the second out. The Bulldogs would get the go-ahead run to the plate before Steffen slammed the door with a strikeout. The senior earned the complete game victory with three strikeouts.
Up Next
MSUM (16-35, 8-16 NSIC) heads into the final weekend of the regular season with home games against Bemidji State and Minnesota Crookston. The weekend begins against the Beavers on Saturday at 1 p.m.
