MARYVILLE, Mo. – Minnesota State Moorhead softball wrapped up their stretch across Kansas and Missouri on Friday afternoon. The Dragons dropped a doubleheader with Northwest Missouri State.
Game One
Much like MSUM's second game against Missouri Western a day ago, hits (and runs) would come at a premium for both teams.
Brynna Farman turned in another strong start for Moorhead, holding the Bearcats to four hits across the first five innings of play. However, MSUM would not be able to respond with offense of their own as the Dragons were held hitless through the first four frames. A
Lexie Wilson single in the fourth inning would get Moorhead in the hit column, but the contest remained scoreless.
Farman would strand runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings to keep Northwest Missouri State off the board. In the bottom of the seventh, the Bearcats would earn a leadoff single, eventually moving that runner into scoring position. After a sacrifice bunt moved the runner to third base with one out, Northwest Missouri State would use a clutch single to win the game, 1-0. Farman pitched a complete game with four strikeouts.
Game Two
Moorhead would leadoff the second game with a single from
Sami Macchiaroli with the freshman eventually moving into scoring position. However, an inning-ending double play neutralized the early Dragon threat. MSUM starter
Bella Hess had to work out of a jam of her own in the home half, overcoming a leadoff triple to keep the Bearcats scoreless. Moorhead would get runners to second and third in the second frame, but would again be unable to push anything across.
The Dragons would break the scoreless tie in the third inning as
Courtney Locker and Wilson would find base with two outs.
Kayla Roidt would single in the next at-bat with Wilson getting caught in a rundown to conclude the frame. However, Locke would cross home before Wilson was declared out, giving the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
Hess would keep the Dragon lead at one run across the fourth inning but ran into some trouble in the fifth. Northwest Missouri State would plate a run on one hit and an error to even the count at one run. Wilson would leadoff the sixth inning with a walk, eventually scoring thanks to a two-out single from
Lisa Garcia. Heading into the bottom half, Moorhead led 2-1.
The Bearcats would show up in the late innings again, plating two runs on two hits to regain the lead, 3-2. While Moorhead would have chances in the top of the seventh to tie the game, Northwest Missouri State would get the necessary outs to preserve the 3-2 victory.
Up Next
MSUM (2-21) will begin NSIC play next weekend with the Dragons playing host to Southwest Minnesota State and Sioux Falls on March 21 and 22.
