Seeing double: softball opens 2021 with two 2-0 wins

Friday, February 12

St. Cloud, Minn.

1 p.m.

St. Cloud State

1-0

Northwestern College (Iowa)

2-1

Northwestern (IA)

St. Cloud State

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

2/12/2021 8:47:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

ST. CLOUD, MINN. - The St. Cloud State University softball team waited nearly 365 to see action. For many fans, though, it seems like the 2020 softball season was only yesterday. The Huskies picked up right where they left off last March and opened the 2021 season with nearly identical 2-0 wins over Northwestern College (Iowa) on day one of the Kelly Laas Memorial Tournament.

It took both St. Cloud State and Northwestern (and the few fans in attendance) a while to warm up in game one between the two teams, as Lauren Kirchberg (Columbus, Wis. / Columbus) and Samantha Ubben dueled it out from the pitcher's mound. The two starters surrendered a combined three hits through the first three innings of play and did not allow a single base runner to reach second base, an impressive feat against two offensive powerhouses.

The Huskies figured out Ubben first, as they cracked through the scoreless tie to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth. Redshirt sophomore Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) ripped a single up the left field line to give St. Cloud State a runner on first with two outs. Head coach Paula U'Ren opted to put in the speedy Lydia Krueger (Appleton, Wis. / Appleton North), who then proceeded to steal second and later score on an RBI single by senior captain Megan Conrads (Lakeville, Minn. / Lakeville South).

The Huskies tacked on an insurance run two innings later, as Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) scored after some slick base running earlier in the inning. After leading off the inning with a single, the junior shortstop advanced to second on a perfectly placed bunt by pinch hitter Sophie Culhane (Maple Grove, Minn. / Maple Grove) and sped to third after realizing its vacancy. Rather than risk another big hit, the Red Raiders opted to walk Estrada, putting runners on first and third with one out.

St. Cloud State then pulled some trickery out of its back pocket, as Estrada, typically not a base stealer, sprinted for second on the ensuing pitch, while Vanden Langenberg stilled on third. The catcher opted to go for the out at second, allowing Vanden Langenberg to speed home and score, giving the Huskies a 2-0 lead.

The two runs were all Kirchberg needed, as she was nearly perfect in her seven complete innings of work. Perhaps the more impressive stat is that the redshirt sophomore struck out five Red Raider batters without allowing a single walk while earning her first one of 2021.

It was nearly deja vu in game two, as the Huskies again won 2-0 behind a complete game performance by their pitcher. There were a few key differences, however. Kylie Thomsen (Elk Grove Village, Ill. / Elk Grove) earned the win from the circle in game two, throwing seven complete innings with five strikeouts, seven flyouts and eight ground outs. She additionally surrendered just six hits in her seven innings of work for her most efficient start since 2020.

The Huskies also used power rather than finesse to score their runs in game two, and only scored in a single inning. The second. Estrada again was a catalyst of St. Cloud State's offense, as she led off the second inning with an absolute bomb of a double to left center. She later advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Conrads before scoring on Vanden Langenberg's sac fly to deep center.

One batter and one swing later, the Huskies extended their lead to 2-0. Sydney Trees (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake) owned the team's first home run of the season, as she blasted the ball over the center field fence to boost St. Cloud State's lead to 2-0 in the second.

The Huskies continued to threaten throughout the game, but those two runs were the only ones to cross the plate. With Thomsen pitching, though, the second run wasn't even needed, as the junior secured St. Cloud State's 2-0 win with a perfect 1-2-3 seventh inning.

Estrada was offensively the team's top hitter Friday afternoon, as she went 4-5 at the plate, including a 3-3 performance in game two. Conrads was the team's top hitter in game one, going 2-3 at the plate with an RBI.

With the wins, the Huskies open the 2021 season with a pristine 2-0 record. St. Cloud State will return to action Saturday morning, when it takes on Truman State in a nonconference doubleheader. Game one is set to begin at 9 a.m. with game two to follow.