The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Baseball team wrapped up the season with an 8-5 victory over the University of Mary Marauders in a Northern Sun Conference game played in Crookston.
The first inning was anything other than a pitcher’s duel as the teams combined for 11 runs in the inning. Mary got things going in the top of the first inning with a leadoff solo home run for a 1-0 lead. After a strikeout, a walk, a single, another strikeout, and a single Mary led 3-0.
UMC responded in a big way in the bottom of the inning when Morris was hit by a pitch, Jake Hjelle (Soph. East Grand Forks) singled, and Ben Thoma (Sr. Clearbrook) singled to score a run. After a Matt Nunn (Jr. Edina) walk, a run scored on a balk to bring the Golden Eagles within a 3-2 deficit. Thoma scored on a wild pitch before Tyler Jochen (Sr. San Jose, CA) hit a three-run home run for a 7-3 lead. Ben Goelz (Soph. Maple Lake), Brad Morris (Sr. Auckland, New Zealand), and Hjelle all singled and one more run scored for an 8-3 Golden Eagle lead after one inning of play.
The pitching was solid the next three innings as neither team scored until the top of the seventh inning when Mary’s leadoff batter walked, the next batter reached on an error, before a single to load the bases. The next to Marauders struck out before the next batter was hit by a pitch to score a run to cut the deficit to 8-4. The next batter flew out and Mary was retired.
In the bottom of the inning, Crookston’s Goodwin reached on an error and after two ground outs, Goelz was hit by a pitch and Morris walked to load the bases. The next batter struck out and UMC was leading 8-4 after seven innings.
Mary continued to mount a late game rally with a single and a double to score a run to get within an 8-5 deficit. Mary wasn’t able to score in the top of the ninth inning and Crookston held on to the 8-5 victory to wrap up the 2022 season.
Crookston end the season with an overall record of 18-27 and a 10-16 NSIC record.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Mary | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| UMC | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 8 | 10 | 3 |
For UMC-
Ben Goelz – 3 for 4, run
Ben Thoma – 2 for 4, run, rbi
Jake Hjelle – 2 for 5, run, rbi
