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UMC BASEBALL ADVANCES TO NSIC FINAL FOUR AFTER BEATING MINOT STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Baseball advanced to the second round of the Northern Sun Conference playoffs for the first time in program history with a 7-6 victory over the Minot State Beavers at Corbett Field in Minot, North Dakota.   UMC built a 6-0 lead and held on for the victory. 

UMC could not have asked for a better start to the game with a one-out rally.  Mason Ruhlman (Sr. Algonac, Mich) was hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third base on an error on a pickoff attempt.  Brock Reller (Sr. Grand Forks) was hit by a pitch and stole second base and runners were at second and third base with one out. The next Golden Eagle batter struck out, but Scott Finberg walked to load the bases.  As they have done all season long, UMC came up with a big two-out hit when Jake Hjelle (Fresh. East Grand Forks) singled and scored two runs to give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.  
Minot State started the bottom of the first inning with a single, but the next three batters were retired. 

UMC struck again in the second inning.  After a leadoff strikeout, Landyn Swenson (Sr. Devils Lake, ND) walked and Ben Bryant (Sr. Fargo, ND) singled.  Swenson stole third and it proved to be a big play as Ruhlman flew out to centerfield to score a run for a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Conner Richardson (Jr. Grand Forks, ND) retired the Beavers in 1-2-3 fashion. “He is a kid who has gone through some tough times,” said UMC Coach Steve Gust. “Losing his dad earlier this year and there isn’t a more deserving guy to get the win today.”

UMC added another run in the top of the third inning when Will Zimmerman (Sr. Park River, ND) singled and advanced to second on a balk.  Finberg reached on a fielder’s choice and the Golden Eagles had runners at the corners.  Hjelle followed with a single to score Zimmerman and UMC led 4-0.  
Minot State had a one-out single in the bottom of the inning before the next two batters were retired.

Minot State decided to make a pitching change and it didn’t make a difference because Bryant led off with a single and after an out, Reller crushed the ball over the fence for a two-run home run and UMC took a 6-0 lead.  “Getting those early runs was key and we thought it would be,” said UMC Coach Steve Gust. “Brock Reller, Jake Hjelle, and Mason Ruhlman and on, and on.  We have a tough line to face because of the efforts of the guys around them they are getting good pitches.”
Minot State took advantage of a leadoff walk and a passed ball in the bottom of the inning.  The Beavers scored their first run on a ground out and Crookston’s lead was 6-1.

UMC added another run in the fifth inning.  With two outs, UMC did it again as Eli Jung singled and advanced to second base on an error.  Swenson followed with a single and Jung scored on an error to give the Golden Eagles a 7-1 lead.  Bryant followed with another single to force another Minot State pithing change. The next UMC batter struck out and the threat was over.
Minot State responded in the bottom of the fifth inning with two unearned runs.  The Minot State lead-off batter reached on an error and the next batter grounded out before a triple to score a run and the Beavers trailed 7-2.  The Minot State baserunner scored on a wild pitch to get within a 7-3 deficit.

In the sixth inning, UMC was held scoreless for the first time in the game thanks to a nice double-play turned by Minot State.
The Beavers were retired in 1-2-3 fashion and UMC held onto a 7-3 lead. 

UMC didn’t score in the top of the seventh inning.  The only batter that reached in the inning was Ben Thoma (Jr. Clearbrook) with a walk.
Minot State had a threat going in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff single, but Richardson retired the next three batters and UMC held on for a 7-3 lead.

In the eighth inning, the Golden Eagles were retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Minot State started the bottom of the inning, with a single and that was followed by a two-run home run to bring the Beavers within a 7-5 deficit.  The next batter reached on an error and the Golden Eagle defense came up with two tremendous plays by Will Zimmerman in centerfield to get out of the inning.  UMC took a 7-5 lead into the final inning. “Pitching and defense wins championships, as they say,” said Coach Gust. “Some of the plays we were making like Will and the infielders were great.”

In the top of the ninth inning, Crookston was held scoreless for the fourth straight inning and took a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Minot State led off with a double and the next batter reached on an error to put runners at first and third base with nobody out and the winning run at the plate.  The next batter grounded out, but a run scored to bring Minot State within a 7-6 deficit and a runner at second base with one out.   UMC went with a pitching change and the first batter Tyler Hegg (Soph. Thompson, ND) faced was a four-pitch walk and runners were at first and second base.  The tying run in scoring position at second base, and the winning run at first base.  Hegg redeemed himself as he struck out the next batter for the second out of the inning and the Golden Eagles were one out away from winning the series.  The next batter drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases.  So, to recap -there were two outs, UMC led 7-6, and bases were loaded.
Hegg’s first pitch was a ball.  The next two pitches were strikes.  The fourth pitch was a ball for a 2-2 count.  Hegg’s next pitch was a strike for a strikeout looking and UMC won the game 7-6 to advance to the second round of the playoffs for the first time in program history.  “Tyler has been getting us big outs and he has been getting better as the season progressed.  No moment is too big for him,” said Coach Gust. “I can’t say enough about our guy’s effort.  It was a gutsy effort, a gritty effort, they find ways to win.  That Minot team is very, very talented and we found ways to make plays and the pitches and the results came.”

Crookston improves to 25-10 on the year and will play Minnesota State Mankato at Noon on Wednesday, May 19 at Karras Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  You can hear all the UMC games from Sioux Falls on KROX Radio, online at KROXAM.com, the KROX app, or on your smart speaker (just say Listen to K-R-O-X in Crookston)
Minot State’s season ends with a 24-17 record. 

[yotuwp type=”videos” id=”qPTRpm-VdNU” ]

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UMC 2 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 0 7 11 3
MSU 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 2 1 6 8 3

 

Pitching IP H R ER BB K
Conner Richardson-UMC 7.0 5 3 0 1 3
Brody Sorenson – UMC 1.1 3 3 3 0 0
Tyler Hegg – UMC 0.2 0 0 0 2 2
Blake Gallagher – MSU 3.0 4 4 3 2 5
Noah Myhre – MSU 1.2 5 3 2 0 1
Jordan Chappell – MSU 4.1 2 0 0 1 5


For UMC
Ben Bryant – 3 for 5, run
Brock Reller – 2 for 4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, home run
Jake Hjelle – 2 for 5, 3 RBI

For Minot State
Matt Malone – 2 for 4, walk
Jordan Williams – 2 for 4, 2 runs, double

 

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