Bowlin, LaPoint propel Huskies to 2-0 day in Florida

Wednesday, March 6

Clermont, Fla.

9 a.m. EST

St. Cloud State

10-1

University of Findlay

6-7

Findlay

St. Cloud State

Brooke Bowlin scored the go-ahead run and accounted for the game-winning RBI in game one against Findlay.

Photo by: Maddie MacFarlane

3/6/2019 8:13:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

CLERMONT, FLA. – It may have only been 44 degrees and sunny, but it was another perfect day for some St. Cloud State University softball action. It turned out, it was another perfect day for two more Husky wins on the diamond. Yes, St. Cloud State earned its third consecutive sweep over nonconference opponents, as the team opened the day with a thrilling 2-1 victory over the University of Findlay before powering its way to an 8-0, five inning win over Mercyhurst University.

If the opening game between the Huskies and Oilers were to be described as a movie, it would best fit under the action-packed thriller/drama genre. Or, in simpler terms, a pitcher's duel. St. Cloud State's senior ace Kate Kopeck (Lumseden, Sask. / Lumsden) and junior Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Villaige, Ill. / Elk Grove) were mowing Findlay batters down, while the opposing pitcher did the exact same. For five and a half innings, those three pitchers managed to keep all runs off the board, until the Huskies finally broke through in the bottom of the sixth. Morgan Emmans (Blaine, Minn. / Mounds Academy) bases clearing triple easily scored Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) from first and gave St. Cloud State a 1-0 lead with just the seventh to go.

The Huskies needed just three outs in the top of the seventh to walk away victories, but the pesky Oilers managed to tie the game at 1-1 and send it to the bottom of the seventh. However, extra innings weren't necessary, as the bottom of St. Cloud State's came in clutch to help the Huskies earn the 2-1 win.

The Huskies offense powered them to an 8-0 victory over Mercyhurst in game two, as they completely dominated in all facets of the game. St. Cloud State quickly got on the board, as the team scored three runs in the top of the second to take an early 3-0 lead. From there, the Huskies just kept tacking on the runs, scoring two runs in the third inning, one in the fourth and two in the fifth to end the game in five innings.

Sydney LaPoint (Green Bay, Wis. / Bay Port) was flawless on the mound for St. Cloud State, as she earned her fourth win of the season in dominant fashion. In four innings of with, the first year gave up just two hits and tallied four strikeouts to cruise to the easy 8-0 victory. Emma Murphy (Stillwater, Minn. / Stillwater) closed the game for the Huskies, as she sent the three batters she faced down in order to clinch the win for St. Cloud State.

Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) and Bowlin were the top hitters for the Huskies in the opener against Findlay, as they went a combined 4-5 at the plate. Estrada, a first year designated hitter, went 2-2, while Bowlin was 2-3 and provided both the go-ahead run in the fifth and the game-winning RBI in the seventh.

Cassie Francesconi (Schomberg, Ontario / Emily Carr Secondary) and Maya Keating (Wheaton, Ill. / Wheaton-Warrensville) were perfect at the plate in game two, as Francesconi went 2-2 with two RBI and Keating was 3-3 with two runs and a RBI.

With the wins, St. Cloud State's overall record improves to 11-1 and the team extends its win streak to 10 games. The Huskies will return to action on Thursday, when they take on Gannon University and the University of the Sciences.