WAYNE, Neb. – Minnesota State Moorhead softball earned a two-game split with Wayne State on Sunday afternoon. The Dragons secured a victory in game one with the Wildcats earning the win in game two.
Game One
For the second straight day, Moorhead would open game one with hot bats, scoring two runs on two hits in the top of the first.
Teagan Pranchke would earn a leadoff walk before
Lexie Wilson later scored her fellow senior. In the ensuing at-bat,
Courtney Locke would bring around Wilson as the Dragons led 2-0.
After a hitless bottom half from
Brynna Farman, MSUM would continue to assert themselves in the second inning. The Dragons would load the bases thanks to base hits from Pranchke and
Sami Macchiaroli. Moorhead would post another run in the inning after a sacrifice fly from
Riley McKeever. Wayne State would score two runs across the second and third frames to pull within one run.
While the teams would be held scoreless in the fourth frame, MSUM would tack on another run in the fifth. Wilson would single with one out, moving to third base on a double from
Kayla Roidt. Wilson would cross home after an RBI groundout from
Lacey Camden. Heading into the sixth inning, Moorhead led 4-2.
The Wildcats would pull to within one run again in the bottom of the sixth inning. While Wayne State would get the tying run to third base, Farman would get out of the jam with a timely groundout to preserve the 4-3 Dragon lead. Wayne State would get the tying run on base again in the final half inning. However, Farman would work for three consecutive outs to secure victory for Moorhead. Farman earned her first pitching decision of the season in the complete game effort.
Game Two
The Wildcats would turn their fortunes around in the second game, scoring two runs on a pair of Dragon errors in the first inning. Wayne State would score three more runs on four hits in the home half of the second to establish a 5-0 lead.
Moorhead would be held without a hit until the top of the fifth inning as Roidt and
Lisa Garcia earned back-to-back singles. Both runners would move into scoring position, but the Dragons would be unable to bring a run in. Wayne State would hold the Dragons without a hit in the sixth and seventh innings, earning a 5-0 victory.
Up Next
MSUM (3-28, 1-7 NSIC) returns home for a six-game homestand next weekend. The stretch begins against Jamestown on Friday, April 3 at noon.
