Softball earns split with #18 Minnesota State

Sunday, April 10

St. Cloud, Minn.

1:00 p.m. CT

St. Cloud State

26-9, 8-3

Minnesota State University - Mankato

2-0, 8-3

Minnesota State

St. Cloud State

Raven Vanden Langenberg (left) and Lydia Krueger (right) celebrate their joint catch in the fifth inning of game two.

Photo by: Kylie Macziewski

4/10/2022 5:37:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Huskies fall 5-0 in game one before rebounding with a 5-2 win in game two

ST. CLOUD, MINN. – The St. Cloud State University softball team is back to its winning ways. After suffering their first sweep of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) season, the Huskies earned a key split with #18 Minnesota State, dropping the first game 5-0 before rebounding with a 5-2 win in game two. St. Cloud State is now 21-12 on the season and 9-3 in NSIC play.

GAME ONE: St. Cloud State (0) vs. Minnesota State (5)

The #18 Mavericks wasted no time proving why they are one of the top-25 teams in the nation, taking a 1-0 lead over the Huskies in the top of the second. MInnesota State then looked to extend its lead in the top of the third, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Though Lauren Kirchberg (Columbus, Wis. / Columbus) managed to get the first two outs of the inning but was unable to get out of the inning unscathed, as the Mavericks extended their lead to 3-0 in the third.

St. Cloud State tried to cut into the Minnesota State lead, but the Huskies were unable to solve the puzzle that was Mackenzie Ward. The NSIC's top pitcher held St. Cloud State's red hot offense to two hits over the course of seven innings, as Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) was the only Husky to tally one in the 5-0 loss.

GAME TWO: St. Cloud State (5) vs. Minnesota State (2)

The Huskies turned to ace Trinity Junker (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) after the game one loss, hoping the junior ace could spur them to victory. After two innings of scoreless play, the Mavericks again cracked the board first, scoring their first run on two hits in the top of the third for a 1-0 lead. St. Cloud State responded in the best way possible. The Huskies scored two runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, taking a 2-1 lead on some top-notch base running by Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) and Vanden Langenberg. It also helped that Madison Spah (Anoka, Minn. / Ramsey), Bowlin and Vanden Langenberg hit three straight singles, loading the bases with no outs for St. Cloud State. Though Spah was out on the ensuing play, Bowlin scored on a throwing error by the catcher, using her speed to outrun the throw home to tie the game 1-1. Vanden Langenberg then scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield), securing a 2-1 lead for the Huskies.

That wasn't the last time St. Cloud State would score, as the Huskies busted the game wide open with a three run fifth to make it 5-1. Vanden Langenberg started the scoring barrage with a solo home run before Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) kept things going with a single up the middle. All of that paled in comparison to Estrada's two run blast, which may still be in orbit somewhere over Minnesota.

With a 5-1 lead, things got interesting in the top of the seventh, as Minnesota State recorded back-to-back singles to put runners on second and third with zero outs. The Mavericks cut the lead to 5-2 with yet another single, causing a slight panic for Huskies fans. It was no harm, no foul for Junker and St. Cloud State, as the junior ace secured the 10th victory of the season with two strikeouts and a fly out.

TOP HUSKIES

Raven Vanden Langenberg (Seymour, Wis. / Seymour) went 2-3 in game one against the Mavericks, accounting for St. Cloud State's hits in the game. She also went 2-3 in game two with two runs and an RBI.
Trinity Junker (Lindstrom, Minn. / Chisago Lakes) tallied six strikeouts in the complete game victory, surrendered to runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
Jasmin Estrada (Litchfield, Minn. / Litchfield) went 1-3 with a run and three RBI in game two, while Haley McFarlane (Swisher, Iowa / Cedar Rapids Prairie), Sydney Trees (Prior Lake, Minn. / Prior Lake), Madison Spah (Anoka, Minn. / Ramsey), Brooke Bowlin (Chaska, Minn. / Holy Family) and Holly Weinberger (Waconia, Minn. / Waconia) all tallied one hit in the win.

UP NEXT
At this moment, St. Cloud State is scheduled to host Minnesota-Crookston in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 12. First pitch is schedule for 2:00 p.m. at Selke Field in St. Cloud, Minnesota.