The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) baseball team used an offensive surge in the fifth inning to blow past UMary 16-8 in an NSIC game played at Rough Rider Center in Watford City, North Dakota.
After the University of Mary scraped across one run in the bottom of the first inning, Minnesota Crookston took their first lead in the top of the third inning. Landyn Swenson (Jr., Devils Lake, ND) singled to center field to lead off the inning before Brock Reller (Soph., Grand Forks, ND) connected for a home run to right center field giving the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead heading into the bottom of the third inning. The Marauders took two runs back in the bottom of the third inning to claim a 3-2 lead. UMary added a fourth run in the bottom of the fourth inning, but UMC took control of the game in the top of the fifth frame. Reed Hjelle (Sr., East Grand Forks) was hit by a pitch to open the inning before Ben Thoma (Soph., Clearbrook) reached on a fielder’s choice. A Brock Reller double to left field moved Thoma to third base before a fly out to center field off the bat of Jonathan Lund (Sr., Tolna, ND) plated Thoma pulling UMC within 4-3. Scott Finberg (Jr., Stillwater) singled to left field plating Reller and tying the game at 4-4. A Mason Ruhlman (Jr., Algonac, MI) double to left field plated Finberg from first base giving the Golden Eagles a 5-4 lead. Griffin Fussy (R-Soph., Ham Lake) singled up the middle continuing the two-out rally as UMC took a 6-4 lead. After a Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., Thunder Bay, Ontario) walk, Landyn Swenson double to center field plating Fussy while expanding the Golden Eagles lead to 7-4. Reed Hjelle capped off the inning with a three-run bomb over the centerfield fence pushing Minnesota Crookston’s lead to 10-4 after five innings. Scott Finberg scored from third base on a wild pitch in the top of the sixth inning as UMC’s lead grew to 11-4 going into the seventh inning. The Golden Eagles put the game further out of reach in the seventh starting with a Bryce Jorgenson walk before Landyn Swenson singled to left field. With runners on first and second, Ben Thoma singled down the right field line plating one run before Brock Reller hit his second home run of the day giving Minnesota Crookston a 15-4 lead into the seventh inning stretch. The Marauders took two runs back in the bottom of the seventh to pull within 15-6 heading into the final two innings. Mason Ruhlman led off the eighth inning with a solo home run to right field pushing the visitor’s advantage to 16-6. The University of Mary scraped across two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, but it wouldn’t be enough as the Golden Eagles closed out a 16-8 win.
Minnesota Crookston improves to 19-13 overall and 12-6 in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles return to the diamond on Tuesday when UMC travels to Marshall to play Southwest Minnesota State in a doubleheader starting at noon. The University of Mary falls to 12-20 overall and 8-12 in conference play.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 18 | 3 |
| UMary | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 17 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | SO |
| Conner Richardson – UMC | 4.0 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Graeme Cherry – UMC | 2.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Louis Gerzin – UMC | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Henry Pesch – UMC | 1.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Dalton Grose – UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
For UMC
Scott Finberg – 3-5, 2 runs, RBI, walk
Brock Reller – 3-6, 2 HRs, 5 RBI, 3 runs
Landyn Swenson – 3-6, RBI, 3 runs, double
Griffin Fussy – 3-6, RBI, run
Mason Ruhlman – 2-5, HR, 2 RBI, 2 runs, double
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