UMC BASEBALL STRUGGLES IN LOSSES AT MINOT STATE

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle bats were shut down with only five hits in two games and dropped to fifth place in the NSIC conference with two losses to the Minot State Beavers 4-1 and 19-0 in a games played in Minot, North Dakota.

GAME ONE
UMC started the scoring in the top of the second inning when Will Zimmerman (Sr. Park River, ND) was hit by a pitch.  Scott Finberg (Sr. Stillwater) singled, but the next batter hit into a double play and Zimmerman advanced to third base.  Teddy Giefer (Fresh. Courtland) reached on an error and Zimmerman scored to give UMC a 1-0 lead.

Minot State responded with a run in the bottom of the third inning with a single and a double to tie the game at 1-1. Minot State had bases loaded, but the next batter struck out to keep the game tied at 1-1.

Minot State continued to have solid at-bats in the fourth inning when they hit a solo home run for a 2-1 lead.  The next batter walked before another home run for a 4-1 lead.

UMC only had two hits going into the top of the seventh inning, but the bats woke up to get a late rally started.  Zimmerman led off the inning with a single, Finberg followed with his second hit of the game to put runners at first and second with nobody out.  The next batter grounded into a double play and Zimmerman advanced to third base.  The next batter ground out to second base and Minot State held on to win 4-1.  

UMC drops to 22-9 overall and 17-9 in the NSIC.  Minot State improves to 23-14 overall and 21-11 in the NSIC.  

GAME ONE BOX SCORE – CLICK HERE

For UMC
Scott Finberg – 2 for 3
Will Zimmerman – 1 for 2, run
Mason Ruhlman – 1 for 3

GAME TWO –
The UMC offense struggled again in game two as they only have one hit through five innings.

In the top of the first inning, UMC’s Landyn Swenson (Sr. Devils Lake, ND) led off with a single, but the next three batters were retired.
Minot State started the bottom of the inning with a single, a double, and a run scored on a sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

After a scoreless second inning, Minot State got back on the board in the third inning with a lead-off walk, which was followed by another walk.  After a fly-out, the Beavers hit a three-run homerun for a 4-0 lead. 

Minot State had another big inning in the fourth inning.  After a strikeout, they had four singles in a row to score a run for a 5-0 lead. UMC went with a pitching change and the next batter struck out before Minot State doubled in two more runs for a 7-1 lead through four innings.

The wheels fell off the UMC bus in the sixth inning as Minot State scored 12 runs on eight hits in the inning.  Minot State had two home runs.  The lead-off batter walked, and the next batter was hit by a pitch.  After a single to load the bases, the next batter was hit by a pitch to score a run.  The next batter singled and after a pitching change Minot State’s batter reached on a fielder’s choice and two runs scored on an error for an 11-0 lead.  The next Beaver singled to score a run and then they scored a run on a sacrifice fly for a 13-0 lead.  Minot State brought in a pinch hitter and he hit a two-run home run for a 15-0 lead.  After a pop-out Minot State hit another home run.  They added two more runs on a double and the 19th run was scored on a balk for a 19-0 lead. 

UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion and Minot State won the game 19-0.  

With the loss, UMC will be the fifth seed in the NSIC playoffs and will be on the road in the first round of the playoffs on Thursday, May 13, and Friday, May 14.  UMC drops to 22-10 overall and 17-10 in the NSIC.  Minot State improves to 22-11 in the NSIC and 24-14 overall and is tied for third place with St. Cloud State with one game left.  Minot State split with St. Cloud State so UMC will either go back to Minot State or St. Cloud State for the first round of the playoffs. 

For UMC
Landyn Swenson – 1 for 3 – the only UMC hit