MOORHEAD, Minn. -- MSU Moorhead softball used strong pitching and timely hitting to achieve an NSIC doubleheader sweep on Sunday afternoon. The Dragons defeated Wayne State in a pair of conference contests. 

The Dragons won game one by a 4-1 score before narrowly claiming game two, 1-0. 

Game One

It was the Dragon offense who would start the game with a spark in the bottom of the first inning. After Jessie Henry earned a leadoff single, Avery Steffen stepped up and proceeded to crank a two-run homer to right center. The dinger was Steffen's second of the season and gave MSUM an early 2-0 lead heading into the second frame. Brynna Farman would turn in a quality start for the Dragons in the circle, holding the Wildcats without a hit through two innings. In the bottom of the third, MSUM would threaten once again as Steffen singled with two outs. From there, Annika Norman would bloop a ball into left field to score Steffen and put the Dragons in front by three runs. 

Farman would continue to limit Wayne State in the fourth inning, not allowing a run and stranding a Wildcat in scoring position to get out of the frame. The visitors would not get a run back until the fifth inning, scoring an unearned run following an MSUM error. The Dragons would get that run back in the home half as Henry again led off the inning with a single. MSUM would eventually load the bases before Lexie Wilson brought home a run on a fielder's choice to have the Dragons up 4-1. 

Steffen would come on in relief, slinging an impressive three innings and holding the Wildcats without a hit across the sixth and seventh innings. The senior would collect her first save of the season in the process as MSUM won 4-1. Farman collected her second win of the season for the Dragons as well. 

Game Two

Pitching would command a majority of the second game as sophomore Teagan Clemmons was dialed in from the jump. Despite Wayne State loading the bases in the first inning, Clemmons would settle in and close the frame with a strikeout. The Dragons would go on to load the bases in the home half, but would be stifled by Wildcat starter Taylor Coleman, keeping the game scoreless. Clemmons would only surrender one Wildcat hit in the second, third and fourth innings while accumulating four strikeouts. In the same stretch, MSUM only managed one hit off a bunt single from Steffen. 

Clemmons would see some trouble in the top of the fifth inning as Wayne State had a runner in scoring position with two outs. The sophomore would rear back and strikeout the final batter of the frame to preserve the scoreless tie. Henry would get the Dragon offense going in the home half with a double followed by a single from Steffen, her third hit of the game. Steffen would eventually move to third base after a wild pitch with Eliya Johnson at the plate. Johnson would spray a ball into right field to score Steffen and put MSUM up, 1-0. 

The Wildcats would get two on with no outs in the top of the sixth, but Clemmons again showed poise and dominance in the circle. The Las Vegas, Nev., native got out of the inning behind two flyouts and another strikeout. Looking for the shutout, Clemmons fanned back-to-back Wildcats to open the seventh inning before securing the Dragon sweep with a lineout. Clemmons finished the game with 10 strikeouts, matching her career high and earning the first complete game shutout of her career. 

Up Next

MSUM (14-29, 6-10 NSIC) is on the road next week as they prepare to take on Minot State on Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m.