The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle baseball team led 5-4 and scored four big runs in the ninth inning to get a big NSIC series victory with a 9-4 win over the Southwest Minnesota State Mustangs in a game played in Marshall, Minnesota.
FIRST INNING
The first two UMC batters were retired before Josh Dykhoff (Jr. Wadena) walked, and the next batter flew out, and the half-inning was over.
Southwest was retired in 1-2-3 fashion, and the game was scoreless through one inning.
SECOND INNING
The first Golden Eagle batter flew out before Kobe Senn (Sr. Fargo, ND) walked, but the next two batters struck out.
The first Southwest batter stuck out, and after a walk, the next two batters.
THIRD INNING
UMC broke the scoreless streak in the third inning when Kyler Miller (Fresh. Grand Rapids) led off with a solo home run for a 1-0 lead. The next two batters were retired before Dykhoff and Americo Sculati (Jr. Golden Valley) singled and Brock Larson (Jr. Blaine) to load the bases. A pitch hit Senn to score a run, and Aaron Wensloff (Soph. Roseau) singled to score another run for a 3-0 lead.
UMC pitcher Nate Benning (Soph. Browerville) continued to dominate on the mound as he retired Southwest in 1-2-3 fashion.
FOURTH INNING
Both teams were retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the fourth inning.
FIFTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Southwest singled to start the bottom of the inning, but the next three batters were retired, and UMC took a 3-0 lead into the sixth inning.
SIXTH INNING
With one out, Aaron Wensloff reached on an error. After an out, Kyler Miller hit a home run to score two runs, and UMC led 5-0.
Southwest finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning with a single, double, and a ground out and scored a run. Another ground-out scored another run to bring Southwest within a 5-2 deficit. The next batter reached on an error, and a run scored on a passed ball. The next batter singled to score a run, and the Mustangs trailed 5-4.
SEVENTH INNING
Dylan Debilzen (Fresh. Parkers Prairie) singled and stole second base. Sculati walked with one out, and the next batter hit into a double play.
Southwest was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
EIGHTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the inning.
Southwest led off the inning with a single, but the next three batters were retired, and UMC took a 5-4 lead into the ninth inning.
NINTH INNING
Kodi Miller (Sr. Grand Rapids) singled and stole second base. Debilzen singled before Dykhoff singled to score a run for a 6-4 lead. After a strikeout, Connor Bushbaum (Jr. Saginaw) singled in two runs for an 8-4 lead. Senn followed with a single to score another run for a 9-4 lead.
Southwest needed a big bottom of the inning, and it started with a walk, but UMC pitcher Nate Grafsgaard (Sr. Devils Lake, ND) came into pitch the ninth inning and shut the door after giving up a leadoff walk; he retired the next three batters, and UMC won the game 9-4 to take the weekend series two games to one.
UMC gets a big series win and improves to 16-19 on the year and 13-12 in the NSIC. UMC will travel to Bemidji State on Tuesday for a doubleheader. Southwest Minnesota State drops to 20-12 on the year and 15-10 in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 11 | 2 |
| SW | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 1 |
For UMC-
Kyler Miller – 3 for 4, 3 runs, 3 rbi, home run, stolen base
Josh Dykhoff – 2 for 4, 2 runs, rbi, walk, stolen base
Dylan Debilzen – 2 for 5, run, stolen base
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Nate Benning-UMC (WP) | 5.0 | 1 | o | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Isaac Roers – UMC | 0.2 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Weber-UMC | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Joey Connelly – UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Caden Edwards-UMC | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Nate Grafsgaard-UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Carter Petron-SW (LP) | 6.0 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| Cameron Jensen-SW | 3.0 | 6 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 3 |
