(Bemidji, Minn.) - The University of Minnesota, Crookston Women's Softball team played a non-conference double-header today against Bemidji State University. The Beaver's got past the Golden Eagles 6-1 in the first game but UMC battled the rain and the Beavers to prevail 5-0 in the finale.
 
Game 1: Bemidji State put a run up in the bottom of the first and held the lead until the top of the fourth inning when Sarena Diederichs (C, 5-8, JR, St. Cloud, Minn.) drove in Krista Kenyon (2B, 5-5, FR, Sanford, Manitoba) on a single up the middle after a Krystal Plouff (OF, 5-2, SO, Forest Lake, Minn.) sacrifice bunt to move Kenyon into scoring position. The Bemidji State hitters got hot as they added five runs in the bottom of the fifth and BSU pitcher Courtney Anderson shut down UMC for the 6-1 win. Stacey Marcum (P, 5-7, FR, Merrill, Wis.) threw 4.2 innings giving up five earned runs. She was relieved by Erin Fowle (P, 5-8, FR, Winnipeg, Manitoba) who threw 1.1 innings and struck out three of the five batters she faced.
 
Game 2: The clouds opened in the second game as a steady rain fell for a majority of the contest. Veteran Golden Eagle pitcher Steph Thomas (P, 5-9, JR, St. Albert, Alberta) accepted the challenge and threw seven scoreless innings giving up just four hits and striking out eight Beaver batters. The teams were scoreless into the top of the fifth inning when Marcum reached on an error by the left fielder. Micki Nogowski (3B, 5-3, SO, Twin Valley, Minn.) walked and Diederichs loaded the bases with a base hit to right field. Freshman Maria Funk (OF, 5-4, FR, Sebeka, Minn.), in the biggest at bat of her young career cleared the bases with a triple down the right fields line and scored on a throwing error to put the Golden Eagles up 4-0. UMC added one in the sixth as Kenyon led off with a single to left center, stole second base, advance to third on a Marcum base hit and scored on a Diederichs base hit. Bemidji State got batters to second and third in the bottom of the seventh with one out before Thomas closed out the game with two ground outs to second base. Thomas threw seven innings, giving up four hits and striking out eight. She was also 2-3 at the plate to aid in the victory. As a team, Minnesota, Crookston tallied 10 hits including a double and a triple.
 
On the day the Golden Eagles were led by Krista Kenyon who was 4-7 at the plate for a .571 batting average. She tallied two runs scored, one stolen base and had one putout and four assists for a 1.000 fielding percentage. Steph Thomas was 2-4 at the plate with a double and a .750 slugging percentage. Maria Funk was 1-2 at the plate with a triple and three RBI. Sarena Diederichs batted .429 (3-7) with one run scored and three RBI. Behind the plate she had 13 putouts, four assists and a 1.000 fielding percentage.
 
The Golden Eagles host BSU on Wednesday, March 31 in another non-conference double-header. Minnesota, Crookston opens the NSIC season on April 2 and 3 when they host Augustana College and Wayne State College. The first game of the double-header is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. on April 2 and noon on April 3.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

Photos: Top- Krista Kenyon, Middle- Steph Thomas, Bottom- Maria Funk
 
The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).