BISMARCK, N.D. – Minnesota State Moorhead softball turned in a hitting clinic in game two against the University of Mary on Sunday. The Dragons earned a two-game split with the Marauders. 

Game One

For the second straight day, Brynna Farman would turn in a quality start for Moorhead. The senior held the Marauders to four hits through three innings of work without allowing a run. While the Dragons would be held without a hit in that same span, Moorhead's offense would come to life in the fourth frame. Courtney Locke and Lexie Wilson would earn two-out singles to provide a threat for MSUM. In the ensuing at-bat, Kayla Roidt would drive Locke in on a single of her own. 

The Marauders would equalize the score in the home half, scoring a run on two hits. Farman would be in a jam in the bottom of the fifth as Mary loaded the bases with two outs. The senior would earn a pivotal groundout to end the inning, keeping the game tied at one run. MSUM would not earn another hit until the top of the seventh, again off the bat of Roidt. However, Moorhead would be unable to regain the lead heading into the final half inning. 

Unfortunately for MSUM, the Marauders would get the go-ahead run into scoring position with two outs. UMary would capitalize on the chance, earning a walk-off single in the ensuing at-bat to win 2-1. Roidt had a pair of hits in the loss while Farman totaled four strikeouts. 

Game Two

The Marauders would use the game one heroics to maintain momentum into the second contest. UMary scored three runs on four hits through the first two frames to take a quick lead. MSUM would have a strong response in the third inning as freshman Melanie Spivey led off the frame with a double. The Dragons would later load the bases with one out and Sami Macchiaroli at the dish. 

Macchiaroli would offer up a game-shifting hit, cranking a grand slam to left field to score four runs for Moorhead. The blast lifted the Dragons to a one-run lead, 4-3. Credit to the Marauders, who would strike right back with four runs to take a 7-4 lead. However, the Dragons would have another big inning in the top of the fifth. 

Loie Moore would lead off the frame with a triple as the Dragons would again load the bases for Macchiaroli, this time with no outs. The freshman would single in two more runs to bring her game total to six RBIs. Locke would single a few at-bats later to even the score at seven runs each. Moorhead was not done as the senior Wilson would single in the ensuing at-bat, driving home two more runs and putting MSUM up 9-7.

The Dragons were not done either as they would strike again to provide some insurance in the seventh inning. Moorhead would get two on with one out before Locke singled home both runners to post an 11-7 lead. Spivey would single a few at-bats later to put the Dragons up by five runs. Before the inning concluded, Moore would drive in MSUM's 13^th run of the game on an RBI single. 

The six-run cushion proved to be too much for the Marauders as the Dragons claimed a 13-10 victory. MSUM tallied 15 hits in the win while Macchiaroli, Wilson and Locke drove in 11 of Moorhead's runs. There were a total of 27 hits by both teams in the contest. 

Up Next

MSUM (5-34, 3-13 NSIC) is set for a split week of NSIC action next weekend. The Dragons travel to take on Bemidji State on Friday before hosting Minnesota Duluth on Sunday afternoon.