The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle baseball team struggled again against the #8-ranked Minnesota State Mankato Mavericks, being beaten 5-2 and 7-0 in a Northern Sun Conference doubleheader at the UMC Baseball Field.
FIRST INNING
Mankato’s leadoff batter reached on a UMC error. The next batter reached on a fielder’s choice as the Golden Eagles got the out at second base. The next two batters were retired.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning.
SECOND INNING
Mankato exploded in the top of the second inning with a lead-off single. After a fielder’s choice got the out at second base, the next two Mavericks singled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. The next batter doubled to score two runs for a 3-0 lead. UMC’s defensive struggles continued as the next Mankato batter reached on an error, and another run scored for a 4-0 lead.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning.
THIRD INNING
Mankato hit a solo home run with one out for a 5-0 lead. The next two batters were retired.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the third straight inning, this time with three strikeouts.
FOURTH INNING
Mankato was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with the last two outs on strikeouts.
UMC’s Sawyer Satrom (Sr., Portland, ND) walked and advanced to second base on a ground out. Josh Dykhoff (Jr. Wadena) walked before the next batter hit into a double play.
FIFTH INNING
UMC’s Dykhoff continued his solid pitching as he retired the Mavericks in 1-2-3 order.
UMC had a big threat going in the bottom of the inning as Kobe Senn (Sr. Fargo, ND), Brock Larsen (Jr. Blaine), and Connor Bushbaum were hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. Mankato pitcher, Nathan Culley, showed why he is 9-0 on the year because he retired the next three batters with a fly out to shallow left field, a pop out to first base, and a strikeout to get out of the jam.
SIXTH INNING
Mankato was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the second straight inning.
UMC was looking to mount a big comeback, and Dylan Debilzen (Fresh. Parkers Prairie) walked. After a fly out, Americo Sculati (Jr. Golden Valley) tripled over the center fielder’s head and off the base of the fence, Debilzen scored, and the Golden Eagles trailed 5-1. The next two batters flew out.
SEVENTH INNING
UMC’s Dykhoff continued to get stronger as the game went along and retired Mankato in 1-2-3 fashion.
UMC’s Bushbaum and Aaron Wensloff (Soph. Roseau) singled. The next batter walked, and Satrom reached on a fielder’s choice, and the Mavericks got the out at third base. Debilzen singled to right field to score a run to get within a 5-2 deficit. The tying run was at the plate for UMC, but the batter struck out and Mankato held on for a 5-2 victory.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| Mankato | 0 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
For UMC-
Connor Bushbaum – 1 for 2
Dylan Debilzen – 1 for 3, run, rbi, walk
Americo Sculati – 1 for 3, rbi, triple
Kobe Senn – 1 for 3
Aaron Wensloff – 1 for 3, run
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Josh Dykhoff-UMC (LP) | 7.0 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 |
| Nathan Culley-MSU (WP) | 7.0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 9 |
Game 2
FIRST INNING
Mankato’s first batter struck out before two singles and a double scored a run. The next two batters were retired, and the Mavericks led 1-0.
UMC’s first two batters were retired before Dykhoff singled and Larsen walked, but the next batter grounded out to retire the Golden Eagles.
SECOND INNING
The first Mankato batter popped out before a triple. The next batter struck out but reached on a passed ball. The next batter singled to score a run for a 2-0 lead. After a flyout, runners advanced to second and third on a balk. The next batter doubled in two runs for a 4-0 lead.
UMC’s Danny Wensloff (Sr. Roseau) singled with one out before the next batter struck out.
THIRD INNING
Mankato was retired in 1-2-3 fashion. UMC’s Debilzen led off the bottom of the inning with a single before the next three batters were retired.
FOURTH INNING
Mankato had a one-out single before the Golden Eagles made a pitching change. After the change, the Mavericks singled, flew out, and singled to score a run for a 5-0 lead.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
FIFTH INNING
Both teams were retired in order for a quick inning.
SIXTH INNING
Mankato continued to show why they are ranked #8 in the nation because the first two batters were retired, but the Mavericks were tough with two outs. They doubled and singled to score another run for a 6-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, UMC’s first two batters were retired before Dykhoff doubled. The next batter struck out.
SEVENTH INNING
The first Mankato batter grounded out, and after a single, the next two batters were retired.
UMC’s first two batters in the bottom of the inning were retired before Senn singled. The next batter grounded out, and Mankato took a 6-0 lead into the eighth inning.
EIGHTH INNING
Mankato led off the eighth inning with a walk. After the next two batters were retired, they doubled to knock in another run for a 7-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, the first batter struck out before Debilzen and Satrom walked. The runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. The next batter popped out, and Bushbaum came in to pinch-hit. Mankato brought in their third pitcher and got a strikeout to get out of the inning.
NINTH INNING-
UMC brought Nate Grafsgaard in to pitch, and he got the first two batters to fly out before striking out the third batter he faced.
UMC needed at least seven runs in the bottom of the inning, but the first two batters struck out, and the next batter flew out, and Mankato completed the three-game sweep with a 7-0 victory while outscoring the Golden Eagles 35-5.
UMC drops to 15-14 in the NSIC and 18-21 overall and will host St. Cloud State for a doubleheader on Wednesday. UMC is now in a three-way tie (with Winona State and Duluth) for seventh place. Mankato improves to 27-3 in the NSIC and 35-4 overall and is in first place in the NSIC.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| Mankato | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 13 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
For UMC-
Josh Dykhoff – 2 for 4, stolen base
Dylan Debilzen – 1 for 3, walk
Danny Wensloff – 1 for 3
Kobe Senn – 1 for 4
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Nate Benning-UMC (LP) | 3.1 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Isaac Roers-UMC | 2.1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Joey Connelly-UMC | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Max Weber-UMC | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Caden Edwards-UMC | 1.0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Nate Graafsgard-UMC | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Louis Magers-MSU (WP) | 5.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Jacob Gajic-MSU | 2.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| Ean DiPasquale-MSU | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
