UMC BASEBALL SWEEPS MINOT STATE TO END REGULAR SEASON

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles baseball team wrapped up a record-setting regular season with a doubleheader sweep against Minot State in a pair of NSIC games played at the UMC Baseball Field.  UMC came from behind in both games and won 7-5 and 9-4.

Game One –
Minot State capitalized off a leadoff walk before a double down the right-field line giving the Beavers a 1-0 lead. Following a leadoff double hit by Wyatt Schlosser (Sr., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) to open the second inning a singled moved the lead runner to third base. A wild pitch to the backstop allowed Schlosser to score giving Minot State a 2-0 lead.
In the bottom of the second inning, Ben Thoma (Soph., Clearbrook) led off the inning with a singled to left field. With one out, Scott Finberg (Jr., Stillwater) singled to left field putting runners on first and second base. Landyn Swenson (Jr., Devils Lake, ND) walked to load the bases before Griffin Fussy (Soph., Ham Lake) walked in UMC’s first run of the game. Reed Hjelle (Sr., East Grand Forks) followed with a single to centerfield plating Swenson and Finberg giving the Golden Eagles a 3-2 lead.
A walk and hit-by-pitch started the fifth inning for the Beavers before Darrell Doll (Sr., Roseville, CA) singled up the middle, plating the tying run. A sacrifice line out to center field allowed another Minot State run to score putting the visitors ahead 4-3. Wyatt Schlosser singled to right field driving in the Beavers’ third run of the inning giving Minot State a 5-3 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Travis Conoryea (Soph., Inver Grove Heights) walked to spark a UMC rally. Ben Thoma was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second base before a ground out moved both runners into scoring position. Landyn Swenson reached on a fielder’s choice allowing Conoryea to score bringing the Golden Eagles within 5-4 after five innings.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Reed Hjelle led off the inning with a solo home run over the left field fence tying the game at 5-5. “If the game is on the line, of course, we want Reed Hjelle up,” noted UMC head coach Steve Gust. “He hadn’t been swinging all that well, but he worked hard and found his swing a couple of days ago, and he’s taken off from there. He’s worked to become the hitter he is and in pressure situations that who we want at the plate.” Brock Reller (Soph., Grand Forks, ND) walked before Ben Thoma singled putting runners on first and second base. Mason Ruhlman (Jr., Algonac, MI) doubled to right center field giving UMC a 7-5 lead after six innings. Dalton Grose (Soph., Waterville) entered in the seventh inning and closed out his school-record setting 13th save of the season as UMC secured a 7-5 win. “He’s got thirteen saves which I don’t think has ever been done before,” said Gust of his closer. “He’s done it all year, and he’s been consistent with everything he’s done.”

For UMC
Reed Hjelle – 2-2, home run, 3 RBI, run, walk
Ben Thoma – 2-2, 2 runs, walk

Game Two –
Minot State took a 4-0 lead into the fourth inning before Minnesota Crookston’s offense unloaded.
Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., Thunder Bay, Ontario) doubled down the left field line to spark a UMC rally. Griffin Fussy (Soph., Ham Lake) reached on a fielder’s choice putting runners on the corners before Reed Hjelle (Sr., East Grand Forks) drove in Jorgenson with a sacrifice fly to center field trimming the Golden Eagles’ deficit down to 4-1. Brock Reller (Soph., Grand Forks, ND) walked to put runners on first and second before a Hunter Baldwin walk loaded the bases with one out in the inning. Ben Thoma (Soph., Clearbrook) singled to before an errant throw by Minot State’s center field went out of play scoring three and tying the game at 4-4 while Thoma advanced to third base. Mason Ruhlman (Jr., Algonac, MI) singled on an infield blooper that landed fair putting runners on the corners for Scott Finberg who doubled to left field scoring Thoma and giving Minnesota Crookston a 5-4 lead. Landyn Swenson hit a ground out to third base scoring Ruhlman from third base and giving the Golden Eagles a 6-4 lead after four innings.
Reed Hjelle singled to center field before stealing second base. Brock Reller doubled to center field scored Hjelle and giving UMC a 7-4 lead after five innings. “We got some big hits,” explained Gust. “Just like the first game. Our approaches were good at the plate. We didn’t give away too many at-bats. We got the job done when it counted most.”
Mason Ruhlman singled to center field to open the eighth inning before Landyn Swenson walked putting runners on first and second base. Bryce Jorgenson singled to left field scoring Ruhlman to make it 8-4 before a Reed Hjelle single to right field allowed Swenson to score giving Minnesota Crookston a 9-4 lead after eight innings. Dalton Grose (Soph., Waterville) returned to the mound to close out game two and did just that preserving the Golden Eagles’ 9-4 win to complete the sweep. “We wanted to make sure, first and foremost, that we were ready for the playoffs,” added Gust. “From a pitching standpoint, we got guys work that they needed. They excelled, we wanted to get them work, but we also wanted them to feel pretty good about what they’re doing. I feel pretty good about everybody we threw out there,” said Gust of his team’s five pitchers utilized in game two. “I like where we’re at,” summarized Gust as his team prepares for the NSIC Tournament next week. “Just based on what I saw today and all year, today and all week I thought we’ve gotten better, and this is where we want to be. We’ll see what happens. It doesn’t guarantee us any wins in the tournament because every team’s good, but it gives us a good opportunity to go in there feeling pretty good about ourselves.”

UMC ends the regular season with a 28-19 record overall and 20-12 in the NSIC. The Golden Eagles now advance to the NSIC Tournament as the #6 seed where they will take on St. Cloud State on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. in St. Cloud on KROX.

For UMC
Reed Hjelle – 3-4, 2 RBI, run
Mason Ruhlman – 2-4, 2 runs
Scott Finberg – 2-4, RBI, 2 doubles
Bryce Jorgenson – 2-5, RBI, run, double