MINOT, N.D. – MSU Moorhead softball found success at the plate, but ultimately fell short in a twinbill with the Minot State Beavers.
Minot State earned a win in game one by an 11-3 score in six innings. The Beavers won a back-and-forth game two in walk-off fashion, 5-4.
Game One
The Dragons would immediately threaten in the top of the first inning as
Jessie Henry opened the game up with a double. After
Avery Steffen singled in the next at-bat, MSUM had two on with no one out. Minot State would curb the Dragon surge, holding MSUM without a run to keep the game scoreless.
Brynna Farman would pitch a strong first inning for MSUM, setting the Beavers down in order with a strikeout.
After MSUM was held without a hit in the second inning, Minot State would plate three runs on two hits and a pair of Dragon errors. Steffen would reach base on a fielder's choice in the third, eventually moving to third base after a single from
Eliya Johnson. The senior would cross home after a Beaver error to make the score 3-1 in favor of Minot State.
Lexie Wilson would single in the ensuing at-bat to score Johnson and pull MSUM to within one run.
The one-run deficit would not hold for long as Minot State would score four more runs on four hits and an MSUM error. Heading into the fourth frame, Minot State led, 7-2. MSUM would get runners to second and third in the top of the fourth inning but would not be able to bring anything across as the Beavers remained on top. Minot State would score two more runs on one hit in the bottom of the fourth to lead 9-2.
MSUM would get a run back in the sixth inning as Steffen drove in Henry, who doubled earlier in the inning. However, Minot State would shut the game down in the home half, scoring three runs to invoke the run rule, winning 11-3. The freshman Henry went a perfect four-for-four at the plate for the Dragons in the game.
Game Two
Steffen and Johnson would earn first frame hits to open game two, but neither would be brought across. In the home half,
Teagan Clemmons would not allow a hit with a strikeout. The Dragons would get going in the second inning as
Natalie Gonzalez hit a solo home run to leadoff the frame. Gonzalez's shot would break the scoreless tie, putting MSUM up 1-0. Minot State would equalize in the bottom half, scoring a run on two hits.
After a scoreless third inning, MSUM would begin the fourth with a threat. Wilson would collect a leadoff single before Gonzalez reached on a walk in the ensuing at-bat. With no outs, MSUM would double steal to get both runners into scoring position. Beaver ace Jasmine Blizzard would lock in from there, setting down three consecutive Dragons to get out of the jam.
The Beavers would respond in the bottom of the inning, leading off the frame with a triple. Minot State would use that to score the go-ahead run to lead 2-1 heading into the fifth. MSUM would threaten again in the fifth after singles from Steffen and
Annika Norman, eventually loading the bases with one out. Wilson would smack a single from there to score both Steffen and Norman, putting the Dragons in front, 3-2.
Minot State would cobble together a pair of runs to regain the lead in the bottom half of the sixth. The Beavers had just one hit in the frame but capitalized on three Dragon errors. MSUM would have the tying run on second base with one out in the seventh after Norman doubled. Johnson would double in the ensuing at-bat to tie the game again, this time at four runs. However, the Beavers would use home field to their advantage, leading off the bottom half with a triple. From there, Minot State would score the game-winning run off a sacrifice fly.
Up Next
The Dragons (14-31, 6-12 NSIC) head to Marshall, Minn., for a doubleheader with Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday. First pitch if scheduled for 1 p.m.
