Dragon Lumber Co. Erupts in Sweep of Marauders - MSU Moorhead Athletics (2024)

BISMARCK, N.D. – MSU Moorhead softball tallied a total of 23 hits and 18 runs in a two-game sweep of the University of Mary on a windy Thursday afternoon.

MSUM would run rule the Marauders in game one, winning 9-1 in five innings. The Dragons would complete the sweep with a 9-2 win in game two.

Game One

The Dragons would take advantage of a Marauder fielding error to open the first inning as Chloe Makinney reached first on the blunder. Makinney would steal her eighth base of the season in the next at-bat, eventually moving to third base on a ground out. From there, Azalya Lopez struck a double which would push Makinney across and give MSUM a 1-0 lead. Mack Gallagher would follow suit in the next at-bat, mashing a double of her own to score Lopez. While MSUM would eventually load the bases before the frame's conclusion, they would only bring across a pair of runs to lead 2-0.

Evey Evans would start for the Dragons as the senior would give up a pair of hits before ending the first with a needed double play. Eliyah McCarthy would lead off the next inning with a walk and would eventually move to third base on a Lizzy Davis single. Lopez would then step to the plate and crush a three-run bomb to put MSUM up 5-0. In just two at-bats in two innings, Lopez had already tallied four RBIs in the game.

Evans would pitch a hitless second inning with a strikeout before leading off the top of the third. The senior wouldswing away and hit MSUM's second homer of the day on a solo shot to center field that put the Dragons up 6-0. The Dragons would not end the inning there as Makinney and Davis would each single with one out. Lopez would drive Makinney home from third for her fifth RBI in three innings. Through three innings, MSUM had accrued 11 hits and would lead 7-0. Mary would tack on a run in the bottom of the third to make the score 7-1.

The Dragons would score an additional run in the top of fourth inning to push the lead back to seven runs. Annika Norman would single in the inning, eventually moving to third base before McCarthy laid down the squeeze bunt to score Norman from third. Teagan Clemmons would enter the game at pitcher in the home half. The freshman would give up a leadoff double before earning three straight outs, closing the frame with a strikeout.

Gallagher would provide the Dragons a valuable eight-run lead in the top of the fifth as the sophom*ore would hit her fourth home run of the season. The solo shot put MSUM up 9-1 and it is Gallagher's fourth tater in the last six games. Clemmons would hold the Marauders without a run in the bottom of the fifth to secure a 9-1 run rule victory for MSUM.

The Dragons finished the game with 13 hits, three of those hits being home runs. Evans earned the pitching decision for MSUM, her third win of the year.

Game Two

MSUM would not waste any time in the second game as Makinney would begin the game the way she did the first. The freshman would find base on a single and get into scoring position with another stolen base. Later in the inning, Eliya Johnson would drive Makinney in on another Mary error. In the next at-bat, Norman would single home Grace Oeltjen (pinch running for Gallagher) to make the score 2-0.

Lopez would start for the Dragons and continue her strong stretch of starts, holding the Marauders to one hit in the first two innings with three strikeouts. The Dragon offense would be on the hunt for runs again in the third inning as Gallagher singled and Johnson was hit by a pitch. With two outs in the frame, Evans would step up and hit her second home run of the afternoon, a three-run round tripper to center field. The senior's power would push the Dragons in front 5-0 with the hit also being Evans' 100th career hit.

MSUM would strike again in the fourth inning as Davis would drive home Makinney (who singled earlier in the inning) on an RBI double. Lopez would continue to dominate, holding Mary to three hits in the third, fourth and fifth innings. This included four more strikeouts for the sensational sophom*ore.

The fifth inning would see MSUM tack on an additional run as Lexie Wilson reached base on an error, which also scored Norman. MSUM would continue their offensive outburst in the sixth, plating three more runs to threaten a run rule win. Makinney would earn her third hit of the game to open the inning. The Dragons would eventually load the bags as Gallagher was hit by a pitch and Johnson worked out a walk. From there, Norman would continue her strong day with a two RBI single, giving her three RBIs for the contest.

While Mary would score two runs in the home half of the sixth, MSUM would close down the contest in the seventh. Lopez would earn the complete game win after retiring the side in the final half inning. The sophom*ore gave up seven hits, a pair of runs, but fanned eight Marauders in the 9-2 Dragon win. For Lopez, it is her 13^thwin of the year.

Up Next

MSUM (22-16, 9-7 NSIC) returns home for Senior Day on Sunday, April 14 when they host Southwest Minnesota State in a doubleheader that begins at noon.

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