(Minnetonka, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC) women’s softball team traveled to the Tonka Dome in Minnetonka, Minn. to take on the University of Minnesota, Morris Cougars in non-conference softball action last night. The Golden Eagles moved to .500 (2-2) on the young season with 11-2 and 11-3 victories over Morris.
Game 1: The Golden Eagles scored in each of the first three innings, busting the game open in the third inning when the team scored seven runs capped off by a Shawna Steinbrink (Jr, 3B, Crookston, Minn.) broken bat grand slam to plate four Golden Eagles. Steinbrink led all players going 3-3 at the plate with a double, a homerun and a grand slam, good for five RBI in the contest. Sarena Diederichs (Fr, C, St. Cloud, Minn.) continues to have a solid freshman season as she went 2-3 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI. Minnesota, Morris had three hits with one each coming from Bailey Jelle, Diane Blommel and Stephanie Wilson. Steph Thomas (Fr, P, St. Albert, Alberta) threw an exceptional game going five innings, allowing two runs and three hits while striking out two. Thomas earned her first collegiate victory and is now 1-1 on the season for Minnesota, Crookston.
Game 2: The University of Minnesota, Crookston exploded immediately in the bottom of the first inning in the second game with eight runs on seven hits to take an early lead. Diederichs sparked the Golden Eagles with a two RBI single to put the team up 3-0. She went 2-3 at the plate with two runs scored and three RBI. The Morris defense struggled giving up only four earned runs in the game. UMC’s defense had a lull as well giving up three runs to the Cougars with only one of those being earned. Both teams combined for 20 hits in the second contest of which 17 were singles. Kelsey Van Ackeren (So, P, St. Cloud, Minn.) pitched three innings for the Golden Eagles to earn the non-conference victory. She gave up one run (zero earned) and struck out one Morris hitter. Britney Winkelman (Jr, P, Foley, Minn.) closed out the game throwing three innings, giving up eight hits and two runs (one earned). Morris was led by Stephanie Wilson, Julie Rohling and Heidi Miller who had two hits each.
Steinbrink and Diederichs led the Golden Eagles on the evening. Steinbrink went 5-6 (.833) at the plate with two doubles, one home run, a grand slam and six RBI. She had an outstanding slugging percentage of 2.167 and an on-base percentage of .875. Diederichs went 4-6 (.667) at the plate and had an on base percentage of .714.
The Golden Eagles are now 2-2 overall on the season while Minnesota, Morris drops to 0-2 overall. Minnesota, Crookston returns to the field on Tuesday, March 18 as the team travels to Rosemount, Minn. to take on Crown College in the Irish Dome. The double-header is set for a 10:00 am first pitch.
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Golden Eagle Hockey is a member of the Midwest Collegiate Hockey Association (MCHA). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).
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