sports

UMC BASEBALL FALLS TO MSUM, BOUNCES BACK TO BEAT WAYNE STATE IN NSIC TOURNEY

May 11, 2023

The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles jumped in front early but a big inning late propelled the Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks to a 5-3 win over the Golden Eagles in the NSIC Baseball Tournament. UMC then bounced back in an elimination game to defeat the Wayne State Wildcats 7-5, keeping their season alive.

UMC VS MSUM

FIRST INNING –
Mavericks starting pitcher Dylan Gotto would strikeout two Golden Eagles hitters in the top of the first inning and retire the side. Alex Koep got the ball for UMC and outside of hitting a batter, also pitched a scoreless first inning.

SECOND INNING –
UMC would get a one out single from Caden Headlee in the top of the second, but Gotto would record three more strikeouts in the inning and keep the game scoreless. Senior Alex Koep would match Minnesota State Mankato’s pitcher with another scorless second inning and we had a pitchers duel through two complete innings.

THIRD INNING –
The Golden Eagles would get one more runner on in the top of the third inning after junior Danny Wensloff was hit by a pitch, but the Mavericks defense shut things down to get out of the inning. Alex Koep continued to mow down Minnesota State Mankato and would cruise through the bottom half of the third inning sending the game into the fourth inning scoreless.

FOURTH INNING –
Jake Hjelle who missed the game yesterday due to sickness would break the scoreless tie as the NSIC Player of the Year would hit a solo home run for the Golden Eagles making it 1-0. After Caden Headlee reached on an error, Ben Goelz (who also missed yesterday’s game due to sickness) would get hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with one out. Sawyer Satrom would come up and hit a base knock to left field, but Headlee would be thrown out at home on a beautiful strike from the Mavericks left fielder for the second out of the inning. UMC still wasn’t done in the inning, as freshman Kobe Senn who was starting his first career game would rope a single to right field to drive in Goelz and give the Golden Eagles a 2-0 lead.

Once again, Alex Koep was in control and would get another 1-2-3 inning to send the game to the top of the fifth with the Golden Eagles in front 2-0.

FIFTH INNING –
Josh Dykhoff would reach base with a two out single for the Golden Eagles in the top of the fifth, but Minnesota State Mankato pitcher Dylan Gotto would strikeout two more bringing his total to eight in the game and put up a zero to keep the deficit at 2-0. The Mavericks would have their first good scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth. After a one out walk, Adam Schneider would crush a fastball to center for the Mavericks first hit of the game putting runners on first and second base with one out. Alex Koep would bear down and pick up a huge strikeout for the second out, and then induce a pop out to first base for the final out of the inning and escape the jam, keeping the Golden Eagles in front 2-0 through five innings.

SIXTH INNING –
Sawyer Satrom would record his fifth hit of the tournament in the top of the sixth but that would be all for UMC. The Mavericks would finally break through and answer with a run. Aiden Byrne would start the inning with a double to center field, and move to third base after a deep flyout. After a shallow fly ball kept Byrne at third base, Mickey Gottschalk would connect on a first pitch fastball and hit a base knock to right field to bring home Byrne and cut the UMC lead to 2-1. That would be all in the sixth for the Mavericks.

SEVENTH INNING –
The Golden Eagles got a leadoff single from Mitch Goodwin to start the seventh, but on a sacrifice bunt attempt from Danny Wensloff, Goodwin would be thrown out at second base. The return throw to first base would also be in time for a 1-4-3 double play. Mike Hallquist would then ground out to end the inning and we would head to the bottom of the seventh with UMC in front 2-1.

Brody Sorenson would replace Alex Koep on the mound for the seventh inning, and the Mavericks would quickly pounce on the new pitcher. After a leadoff single and a flyout, another single put runners on first and third with one out and the top of the order coming to bat. Matt Fleischhacker would hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 2-2. After a walk put runners at first and second base with two outs, a wild pitch moved them to second and third. Jackson Hauge would then deliver the biggest hit of the game on a single to right field to bring both runs home and pull the Mavericks in front 4-2. After another base hit put runners on first and third base, Minnesota State Mankato would pull off a double steal and the runner from third base would score on the throw down to second. UMC would finally get out of the inning, but the Mavericks were now in front 5-2.

EIGHTH INNING –
UMC would get one of those runs back in the top of the eighth inning on another solo blast from Jake Hjelle, but that would be all, and they would trail 5-3 heading into the home half of the eighth inning. Jakob Wiirre would pitch the eighth inning for UMC and the senior did his job putting up a zero to keep the deficit at 5-3 heading into the ninth inning.

NINTH INNING –
After two quick outs, Mitch Goodwin would reach on a throwing error to keep the game alive for Danny Wensloff. Wensloff would face a two strike count and hit a ground ball to second that would be fielded cleanly and thrown to first base for the final out of the game, giving the Mavericks a 5-3 victory and advancing them into the next game. Dylan Gotto went the distance for Minnesota State Mankato striking out nine and earning the win.

The Mavericks improve to 37-13 and will now play St. Cloud State in the championship on the winners side of the tournament tomorrow at noon.

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
UMC	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	0	3	8	1
MSUM	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	0	X	5	7	2

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Alex Koep-UMC	6	3	1	1	3	2
Brody Sorenson- UMC (LP)	1	4	4	4	1	0
Jakob Wiirre- UMC	1	0	0	0	1	1
Dylan Gotto- MSUM (WP)	9	8	3	2	2	9

For UMC
Jake Hjelle, 2 for 4, 2HR, 2RBI, 2Runs
Sawyer Satrom, 2 for 4
Kobe Senn, 1 for 4, RBI

For MSUM
Jackson Hauge, 1 for 3, 2RBI, Run, Hit by Pitch
Aiden Byrne, 1 for 3, 2 Runs, Walk
Mickey Gottschalk, 1 for 4, RBI

UMC VS WAYNE STATE

FIRST INNING –
Jake Osowski got the start for the Golden Eagles and pitched a scoreless first inning. Wayne State was able to load the bases with just one out in the top of the first, but the junior Osowski picked up back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning. The Golden Eagles would get their offense going early as Josh Dykhoff crushed a one out double and Mike Hallquist followed that up with a two run home run to give UMC an early 2-0 lead.

SECOND INNING –
The Wildcats would get a one out single in the top of the second inning from Braden Cannon, but Osowski would induce a groundball double play to end the inning. UMC had a quiet second inning as well with just a lone two out walk from Mitch Goodwin, and they would carry their 2-0 lead into the third inning.

THIRD INNING –
Wayne State was hitting the ball well early and would start the third inning with three straight singles to load the bases. Hunter Babe would then rope a ball up the middle that would hit Jake Osowski. It would score a run and keep the bases load as there was no play to be made. Osowski was shaken up on the play, but after the trainer looked at him, he stayed in the game. The Wildcats would hit a ball to third and score another run with one out being record on the play, and they would follow that up with a single to reload the bases. Blake Stanley would then lift a ball to right field for a sacrifice fly and that gave Wayne State their first lead of the game at 3-2. They would add one more run at the end of the inning with back-to-back wild pitches from Osowski, and take a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the frame.

Danny Wensloff would leadoff the inning with a solo home run to left field (his second of the tournament) making it 4-3 Wayne State. Josh Dykhoff followed that up with a walk, and Mike Hallquist then singled to put runners on first and second base with nobody out. What happened next was madness. Jake Hjelle would hit a blooper to left field, and the Wayne State outfielder would dive and the umpire would rule that he caught the ball. The UMC base runners were confused and thought the ball hit the turf and were running to the next base. Wayne State would double off the Golden Eagles runner at second base, and the runner at first base would be called for interference on a throw back to first for the triple play, and that would end the inning with a 7-4-3 triple play. With the triple play, the Wildcats would take a 4-3 lead into the fourth inning.

FOURTH INNING –
After all the madness, the top of the fourth inning was much simpler as Jake Osowski recorded the first two outs and pitched a scoreless inning for UMC after giving up a two out double. After a strikeout to start the bottom of the fourth inning, Ben Goelz and Sawyer Satrom would draw back-to-back one out walks to put runners on first and second base. Wayne State would make a pitching change and record the next two outs to end the inning and keep a 4-3 lead after four innings of play.

FIFTH INNING –
Wayne State would hit back-to-back singles to start the top of the fifth inning, but a flyout and a fielders choice left runners on first and second base with two outs. Braden Cannon would hit a base knock to left field, and the Wildcats would try to score the runner from second base.

UMC’s long ball had been a big key to their offense in the tournament, and it would strike again. Mike Hallquist would lift a ball into deep left field with two outs for a solo blast tying the game back up at 4-4. Jake Hjelle would single after that, but the inning would end after the next hitter, and we would head into the sixth all squared at 4-4.

SIXTH INNING –
The Golden Eagles would bring in Derin Gaudette for the sixth inning and it would start with an infield single. After a sacrifice bunt, Gaudette would get a flyout before an infield single put runners on the corners. Hunter Babe would deliver a two out single (his third of the game) and the Wildcats would take the lead back at 5-4. UMC made another pitching change and Jackson Schneider would come in and get a fly out for the final out of the inning as he stranded two base runners.

Mitch Goodwin would draw a two out walk in the bottom of the sixth inning for UMC, but that was it, and the Golden Eagles would head into the final three innings of the game trailing 5-4 with their season on the line.

SEVENTH INNING –
Connor Richardson would get the seventh inning on the bump and pitch a 1-2-3 inning in just six pitches. UMC was able to put the tying run on base in the bottom of the frame as Danny Wensloff drew a leadoff walk. Josh Dykhoff would line out to right field for the opening out of the inning and the Wildcats would then make a pitching change. Mike Hallquist would hit a base knock after that and Jake Hjelle would be hit by a pitch to load the bases. Caden Headlee would do his job after that by hitting a sacrifice fly, to tie the game at 5-5. Ben Goelz would then deliver the biggest hit of the game with a two out triple to right center field to score two more runs and give UMC the lead back at 7-5 heading into the eighth inning.

EIGHTH INNING –
Richardson got the ball again in the eighth inning for UMC, and the senior would mow through the Wildcats order once again for a 1-2-3 inning. The Golden Eagles failed to bring anyone across in the bottom of the eighth sending the game to the ninth inning with UMC needing just three outs to keep their season alive.

NINTH INNING –
Richardson was able to do it again in the ninth inning, pitching a scoreless frame while giving up just one hit, and the Golden Eagles would win the game 7-5.

UMC improves to 38-19 on the season and will now play #1 seed Augustana in another elimination game tomorrow afternoon at 3:30 p.m. We will have that game on KROX Radio as well starting with the RiverView Health pregame show at 3:00 p.m.
Wayne State ends its season with a final record of 25-26.

FOR EAGLES COACH STEVE GUST’S COMMENTS, CLICK BELOW

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Wayne St	0	0	4	0	0	1	0	0	0	5	16	0
UMC	2	0	1	0	1	0	3	0	X	7	9	1

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Jake Osowski-UMC	5	12	4	4	1	3
Derin Gaudette- UMC	0.2	3	1	1	0	0
Jackson Schnieder- UMC	0.1	0	0	0	0	0
Connor Richardson- UMC (WP)	3	1	0	0	0	1
Jackson Shelburne- Minot St	3.1	4	3	3	4	2
Jacob Kneifl- Minot St	3	2	2	2	2	4
Logan Walters- Minot St (LP)	0.2	2	2	2	0	1
Kolt Davis- Minot St	1	1	0	0	0	1