Crookston is 0-8 against East Grand Forks since April of 2015 but things could change on Tuesday. The Pirates will look to defend their home field against the Green Wave at 4:00 p.m. Both squads will be entering this one on the heels of a big victory.
Crookston will bounce into Tuesday's game after beating Norman County East/Ulen-Hitterdal, who they had gone 0-8 against in their eight prior meetings. The Pirates were the clear victors by a 13-3 margin over the Titans on Monday. The victory was some much needed relief for the Pirates as it spelled an end to their three-game losing streak.
Emily Bowman made a big impact no matter where she played. On the mound, she didn't allow a single earned run over six innings pitched. Bowman was also stellar in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with one home run, five RBI, and two runs. That home run marked the first that she has launched this season.
In other batting news, Rilynn Aubol was a standout: she went 3-for-4 with two runs, one triple, and one double. That double was her first of the season. Another player making a difference was Allysen Wagner, who got on base in three of her four plate appearances with two runs, one stolen base, and one double.
Meanwhile, East Grand Forks never let their opponents score on Friday. They blew past Fosston 10-0.
Like Crookston, East Grand Forks also got a great game from a two-way player: Karlee Walsh. She didn't allow a single earned run and allowed only one hit while striking out 15 over seven innings pitched. Walsh has been consistent: she hasn't tossed less than eight strikeouts in six consecutive appearances. She was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with four RBI.
In other batting news, Sophia Lukach was incredible, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with six stolen bases and four runs. With that strong performance, she is now averaging an impressive 1.6 stolen bases per game. Avynn Thorson was another key player, getting on base in four of her five plate appearances with two runs and one stolen base.
East Grand Forks is on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five matchups. That's provided a nice bump to their 9-5 record this season. Those wins came thanks in part to their pitching effort, having only surrendered 1.4 runs on average over those games. As for Crookston, their victory bumped their record up to 4-6.
Tuesday's contest will be a test for both teams' pitchers. Crookston hasn't had any issues making contact this season, having earned a batting average of .328. However, it's not like East Grand Forks struggles in that department as they've averaged .317. With both teams so capable at the plate, fans should be ready for an impressive hitting performance.
Crookston couldn't quite get it done against East Grand Forks in their previous matchup back in May of 2023 as they fell 8-5. Will the Pirates have more luck at home instead of on the road? Come back here after the game to get an analysis of the match and other softball content.
