The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles baseball team tried to sneak in a doubleheader with the Wayne State Wildcats on Sunday at the UMC Baseball Field. The two teams were able able to complete the first game with Wayne State scoring two runs in the last inning for a 2-1 win, but game two was halted in the top of the third inning because of rain, with Wayne State in front 8-4. Play is scheduled to resume tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. at the UMC Baseball Field weather permitting.
GAME ONE –
The first game was a pitcher’s duel as both starters were dialed in, striking out hitters, and giving neither team a good scoring chance early on. In total, only one base runner reached base in the first three innings of the game.
UMC would get their first base runner in the bottom of the fourth inning, with a 2-out double from Jake Hjelle (So. East Grand Forks, Minn.). The Wildcats would work out of the inning getting the next hitter out and keeping the score 0-0 after four complete innings of play.
Jake Dykhoff (Jr. Wadena, Minn.) continued his excellent outing on the mound for the Golden Eagles putting up a scoreless top of the fifth inning, and the offense finally broke through for the first run of the game in the home half of the inning. Mitch Goodwin (So. Prior Lake, Minn.) would slash a two-out double putting himself in scoring position, and Jack Peppel (Sr. Olivia, Minn.) would deliver a rbi single scoring Goodwin and giving the Golden Eagles a 1-0 lead after five innings.
Wayne State would go 1-2-3 in the top of the sixth inning, and after UMC couldn’t add an insurance run, Dykhoff would take the mound looking for the complete-game shutout victory. The Wildcats would start off with a leadoff single, and after stealing second base with one out, Dykhoff would get another strikeout putting UMC one out away from a much-needed NSIC win. The count would be worked to full, and on the 3-2 offering, the Wildcats hitter would send a shot over the left-center fence giving them their first and only runs of the game to take a 2-1 lead in the final inning.
UMC would be unable to put a rally together in the bottom of the seventh inning, and Wayne State would secure the 2-1 victory over the Golden Eagles. For UMC it is another heartbreaking late-game loss in NSIC play, after an excellent pitching performance.
GAME ONE BOX SCORE, CLICK HERE
For UMC –
Jack Peppel – 1 for 2, rbi
Mitch Goodwin – 1 for 3, run
Jake Hjelle – 1 for 3
| Game 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| Wayne St | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Jake Dykhoff -UMC (L, 5-3) | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 9 |
GAME TWO –
As the rain started to fall at the beginning of game two, the offenses started to breakthrough. The Wildcats would put up five first-run innings and add three more for an early 8-0 lead. In the bottom of the second inning, however, the Golden Eagles would respond. Ben Thoma (Sr. Clearbrook, Minn.), Brad Morris (Sr. Auckland, New Zealand), and Chad Musser (Sr. Plymouth, Minn.) would all get hits to start the inning and plated two runs. Goodwin would continue the hot plate appearances and knock a base hit moving Musser up to third base. The Golden Eagles would get tricky on the base path, and after Goodwin stole second base, Musser would come across to score on the throwdown giving UMC their third run of the inning. Two batters later Matt Nunn (Jr. Edina, Minn.) would get a 2-out single scoring Goodwin and giving the Wildcats just an 8-4 lead after a four-run bottom of the second for UMC.
As the Golden Eagles went to take the field for the top of the third inning, the rain continued to pour down. The umpires would get together with the coaches and decide to call the game for the time being. Play will resume tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. with Wayne State leading 8-4 in the top of the third inning. The teams will also play the third game of the series following the conclusion of the current game. With the loss in game one, UMC is now 12-19 and 4-8 in the NSIC. Wayne State improved to 14-13 and 8-6 in the NSIC with the win.
UPDATE 12:05 P.M. 4/11
The rest of the series has been canceled due to field conditions from the weather yesterday. The games will not be made up later this season.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
| Wayne St | 5 | 3 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 8 | 6 | 1 |
| UMC | 0 | 4 | X | X | X | X | X | X | X | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Alex Koep-UMC | 0.2 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Logan Spencer- UMC | 1.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
