GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The University of North Dakota picked up a home sweep over South Dakota this afternoon, defeating the Coyotes 1-0 and 4-1 at the Apollo Sports Complex. The wins move the Fighting Sioux to 15-24 while the Coyotes dropped to 12-30.
"Pitching the last two days has really given us the chance to win all four games," head coach Eric Oakley said. "We got three out of the four, which of course we're happy with. The hitting wasn't exactly where we wanted it to be, but we got what we needed when we needed it.
"Three out of four against South Dakota State and South Dakota, I'm real pleased with that. You always want to be able to take care of the regional opponents."
Game 1: UND 1, USD 0
After a scoreless inning and a half, sophomore Caralyn Chewning (Willamina, Ore.) blasted a two-out single to centerfield, bringing around junior Jessi St. Marie (Zumbrota, Minn.) from second. With the Coyotes unable to move a runner past second, the Sioux opened the doubleheader with a 1-0 win.
Junior Emma Gronseth (Forest Grove, Ore.) was credited with the win, moving her record to 6-5. During her five innings on the mound, she struck out four and allowed just three hits. Classmate Michelle Frank (Chaska, Minn.) came in for relief to start the sixth. In her two innings of work, she threw four strikeouts and gave up just two hits. USD's Erica Denney gave up six hits, walked one and tallied eight strikeouts.
Game 2: UND 4, USD 1
South Dakota's Lindsey Boyd led off the second game with a solo homerun over the right field fence, putting the first run on the board for the Coyotes. Hoping to hold USD to that lone run, Frank started the third inning, relieving Gronseth.
The Coyotes held onto their one-run lead until the Fighting Sioux strung together back-to-back homeruns to open the fourth inning. After walking Chewning, USD starting pitcher Missy Blackburn gave up a two-run, centerfield homer to junior Kenna Olsen (Issaquah, Ore.). In the very next at bat, junior Brittany Baker (Buena Park, Calif.) launched her own centerfield homer, giving UND the 3-1 lead. It was the fourth homerun of the season for Olsen and the sixth for Baker.
After going three and out in the fifth, Chewning powered out a centerfield triple to start the sixth, putting her in scoring position as Olsen set out a sacrifice fly to left field in the next at bat.
Frank sealed the win for the Sioux in the seventh as she struck out the first two batters and then tossed out the third out at first.
In her five innings of work, Frank (6-12) struck out seven, walked one and allowed just one hit. Gronseth retired three and gave up three hits during her two innings on the mound. Blackburn (4-11) allowed four hits, walked one and struck out four. Reliever Paige Policky allowed one hit and walked one.
UND will close its eight-game homestand on Thursday afternoon as it entertains the Phoenix from Green Bay.
- Go Sioux -
