Softball
Softball
Softball vs. Minnesota Duluth: UMD 6, 7 / SCSU 5, 2
SOFTBALL: Huskies Drop Season Opening NSIC Twin Bill to Bulldogs
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Kelly Laas |
St. Cloud, Minn. – The St. Cloud State University softball team (13-20, 0-2 NSIC) dropped its season opening NSIC doubleheader to Minnesota Duluth (11-11, 2-0 NSIC) on Saturday evening, Mar. 28, in the Husky Dome by scores of 6-5 and 7-2 (8 innings).
GAME ONE – Minnesota Duluth 6, St. Cloud State 5 - Box Score
In the first game of the season opening NSIC doubleheader between St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, the Bulldogs edged the Huskies 6-5 after UMD’s Casey Moore homered in the top of the seventh to give the Bulldogs the extra insurance run.
After a scoreless first inning, the Bulldogs rallied for three runs on three hits in the top of the second to take a 3-0 lead. The Huskies were quick to respond, scoring four runs off five hits to take the one-run advantage, 4-3.
Junior designated player Lizzy Dwyer (Kalispell, Mont.) started the second inning off with a single down the left field line, and eventually advanced to second on a pass ball. SCSU’s third base player Sara Sbragia (North St. Paul) was next up at the plate and charted a single to the shortstop to advance Lizzy to third. Sbragia then stole second on a strikeout suffered by Emily Edgerton (Wausau, Wis.). With runners on second and third, sophomore Sarah Nohrenberg (Cottage Grove) swung for her first career triple to score Dwyer and Sbragia and cut the Bulldog lead to 3-2.
The Huskies were not finished yet in the inning, as first year Nicole Brandenburg (Grafton, Wis.) was next up and drew a walk. With runners on the corners, rookie second baseman Jackie Dooley (St. Paul) came up big, singling with a bunt to garner her fifth RBI of the season (scored Nohrenberg) and knot the game at 3-3. SCSU charted the go-ahead run on a single from sophomore Kelly Laas (Frankfort, Ill.) when she knocked in Brandenburg.
Two more scoreless innings passed before the Bulldogs regained the lead at 5-4. UMD posted two runs on two hits and left zero runners stranded in the top of the fifth inning following a two-run blast over the right center fence by UMD’s Val Hartel.
UMD took a 6-4 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh. The Huskies hung strong, and with two outs on the scoreboard Kelly Laas (Frankfort, Ill.) swung for her second double of the season. SCSU’s Melanie Upchurch (Waterloo, Iowa) answered the call, posting a single to knock in Laas and cut the Bulldog lead to one run. Following a walk drawn by Stalker, Lizzy Dwyer stepped to the plate with two runners on base and two outs in the final inning. UMD’s pitcher Kristin Danielson won the battle in the end, causing Dwyer to ground out and chart the 6-5 Minnesota Duluth victory.
UMD’s Danielson improved to 6-5 with the win after going the distance, pitching all 7.0 innings and striking out 10 Husky batters in the process.
First year pitcher Brit Krieg (Hudson, Wis.) suffered the loss from the circle and falls to 7-9 overall this season.
St. Cloud State was led by Laas, who went 2-for-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI. Nohrenberg also added a team-leading two RBI’s in the contest.
GAME TWO - Minnesota Duluth 7, St. Cloud State 2 (8 innings) -Box Score
In the second game of the twin bill, Minnesota Duluth jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. The Huskies chipped away at the Bulldog lead and knotted the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the third. Nohrenberg lead the inning off with a double to center field and Brandenburg followed that up with a single down the left field line to score Nohrenberg.
St. Cloud State added another run in the bottom of the fourth after swinging for three straight singles. Edgerton tallied the RBI single in the inning to give the Huskies the 2-1 advantage.
The Bulldogs evened the score at 2-2 in the top of the sixth inning after swinging for two hits.
In the top of the seventh, UMD had runners at second and third with two outs and Casey Moore at the plate. SCSU’s junior pitcher Kaity Strever (Laurel, Mont.) ended up walking Moore to load the bases. The Husky defense held strong as Bulldog third baseman Erin Hunecke stepped up to the plate and popped out to center field to retire the side.
Before the stroke of midnight in the bottom of the seventh inning, St. Cloud State had a runner on second base, two outs on the scoreboard, and junior Lizzy Dwyer at the plate. After a strong at-bat, Lizzy grounded out to the pitcher to send the game into extra innings.
With two outs in the top of the eighth inning, the Bulldogs strung together six hits for five runs to take a commanding 7-2 lead heading into the bottom of the eighth inning.
UMD retired the first three Husky batters in the bottom of the eighth inning to garner the 7-2 victory and earn the NSIC doubleheader sweep.
Six different Huskies charted a hit in the contest while Edgerton and Brandenburg posted the two Husky RBI’s.
SCSU’s Strever suffered the loss from the circle, falling to 6-9 overall as UMD’s Danielson earned the win, improving to 7-5 overall.
St. Cloud State is now 13-20 overall and 0-2 in the NSIC and will continue league action tomorrow, Sunday, Mar. 29, with a doubleheader against Bemidji State at Selke Field. The first pitch of the twin bill is slated for 1 p.m.
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