MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State Moorhead concluded the 2026 season on Sunday afternoon in NSIC action. The Dragons fell in a conference doubleheader with Minnesota State.
Game One
The Dragons would be the first in the hit column in the top of the first inning as
Courtney Locke and
Riley McKeever earned two-out hits. MSUM would not score in the inning as Minnesota State responded with a run in the home half. The Mavericks would score three runs on five hits in the second inning to lead by four runs early.
Moorhead would offer up its first answer in the top of the third inning. Senior
Teagan Pranchke would collect a patented bunt single before moving to second base on an MSU error. After McKeever singled to move Pranchke to third, Locke would earn her second hit to score MSUM's first run. McKeever would later score on another Maverick error to cut the deficit in half.
The Dragons would put themselves in a prime position to even the score in the fourth frame.
Riley Dunne,
Loie Moore and Pranchke would help MSUM load the bases with one out. However, Moorhead's threat would be neutralized after an inning-ending double play. Minnesota State would add an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth to lead, 5-2.
In the final half inning, Pranchke would secure her third hit of the game to begin the frame. While the Dragons would get runners to second base in the inning, Minnesota State would secure the 5-2 win. Locke, McKeever and Dunne each had two hits as Moorhead tallied 10 for the game. Dragon starter
Bella Hess pitched five innings and concludes the season with a team-high six pitching decisions.
Game Two
The teams would combine for three hits and no runs across the first two innings of play in game two.
Brynna Farman would surrender just a pair of hits while striking out three Mavericks in the stretch. Minnesota State would break the scoreless tie in the home half of the third, plating two runs on three hits (and two errors).
MSUM would attempt to answer in the fourth frame as Locke and senior
Lexie Wilson earned two-out hits. However, Moorhead would come up empty handed by the end of the inning. The Mavericks would score three more runs on two hits in the bottom half to take a five-run lead.
The Mavericks would hold a 5-0 lead until the final half inning.
Kayla Roidt would lead off the top of the seventh with a double. The Dragons would plate their first run of the game after an RBI single from Dunne. After Pranchke singled in the ensuing at-bat,
Sami Macchiaroli would drive Dunne home with a single. McKeever would follow suit, driving home Pranchke to pull Moorhead within two runs and bringing the go-ahead run to the plate. Minnesota State would stall the Dragons from there, claiming the game 5-3. Farman pitched a complete game in her final start as a Dragon with five strikeouts. Fellow seniors Wilson and Pranchke combined for five hits in their final outings.
MSUM completes the season 9-44 overall with a 7-23 mark in NSIC competition.
