The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team lost a heartbreaker, 3-2, in the first game and bounced back to win the second game 5-2 to earn a Northern Sun Conference split and stay in third place in the conference.
GAME ONE –
There were no hits or runs in the first three innings, with the game still scoreless.
That changed in the fourth inning when the Huskies led off the inning with a triple and scored a run on a fielder’s choice for a 1-0 lead. UMC tried to counter in the bottom of the inning and the start wasn’t ideal as the first two batters struck out, but after swinging at a strike three in the dirt, Aaron Wensloff (Jr. Roseau) reached on a wild pitch and advanced to second base on another wild pitch. The next batter struck out for the second out of the inning, before Jackson Fliflet (Soph. Wahpeton, ND) doubled to centerfield to score Wensloff to tie the game at 1-1. Connor Bushbaum (Sr. Saginaw) singled and with runners on the corners, Cole Hebl (Soph. Hillsboro, ND) singled to score a run to give the Golden Eagles a 2-1 lead through four innings.
Neither team had a hit in the fifth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, St. Cloud State singled with one out. The next batter reached on a costly UMC error. The runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch before a walk loaded the bases with one out. The Golden Eagles brought in Isaac Roers to pitch in relief, and he struck out the first batter, and the bases were loaded with two outs. The next Husky batter doubled to left field to score two runs to give the Huskies a 3-2 lead.
UMC’s Andrew Sculati (Sr. Golden Valley) started the bottom of the inning with a single, and after an out, Bushbaum singled to put runners at first and second base with one out. The next batter hit into a double play to end the inning.
St. Cloud State led off the seventh inning with a single. After an out on a fielder’s choice, UMC’s defense twisted a double play, and the Huskies led 3-2 going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
UMC’s CadenKappes (Jr. Wahpeton, ND) led off with a single. After a strikeout, Kappes advanced on a wild pitch, and the tying run was in scoring position. The next batter grounded out, and Kappes advanced to third base. Elias Leach (Fresh. Plymouth) walked in a 10 pitch at-bat and moved to second base, giving UMC the winning run in scoring position. The next batter struck out, and St. Cloud State won the game 3-2.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| SCSU | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 2 |
For UMC-
Connor Bushbaum – 2-3
Jackson Fliflet – 1-3, rbi, run, double
Cole Hebl – 1-3, rbi
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Kyle Odenbach- UMC | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Isaac Roers – UMD | 1.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Bryce Brassfield-SCSU | 7.0 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 11 |
GAME TWO –
FIRST INNING-
St. Cloud State’s first two batters were retired. After a walk, the next batter struck out.
In the bottom of the inning, Tori Uhlich (Jr. Wahpeton, ND) struck out, but reached on a wild pitch. After a strikeout, Uhlich stole second base, and Sculati walked. Fliflet flew out to centerfield, and it was deep enough to score a run, and the Golden Eagles led 1-0.
SECOND INNING
St. Cloud State answered in the top of the second inning with a pair of singles and an error allowed the runners to move to second and third. After a lineout, a run scored on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.
UMC responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Aaron Wensloff led off with a walk and moved to second base on a sacrifice. After a strikeout, Kyler Miller (Soph. Grand Rapids) doubled to score a run, and the Golden Eagles took a 2-1 lead.
THIRD INNING
SCSU was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the top of the third inning.
UMC had a threat going in the bottom of the inning when Sculati doubled and Fliflet singled. The next two batters struck out and the Golden Eagles were retired.
FOURTH INNING
The Huskies tied the game with a lead-off solo homerun in the top of the inning. After a single, UMC was able to get three outs and limited the damage to one run and the game was tied at 2-2.
UMC answered in the bottom of the inning when Kappes was hit by a pitch and moved over to second base on a wild pitch. Hebl doubled to score a run. Miller followed with a walk, Uhlich singled and Leach hit into an infield fly, but a run scored on an error and the Golden Eagles led 4-2.
FIFTH INNING
SCSU was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the fifth inning. UMC’s first two batters were retired before Alex Wensloff singled. The next batter grounded out, and the inning was over.
SIXTH INNING
The Huskies had a one-out walk before the next batter hit into a double play. UMC’s Hebl led off the bottom of the inning, reaching on a strikeout and an out-of-play ball. After an out, Uhlich singled to left field and stole second base. The next two batters were retired and the inning was over with UMC leading 4-2.
SEVENTH INNING
SCSU started the inning with a walk, but the Golden Eagles retired the next three batters.
UMC’s Fliftlet was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the inning. The next batter hit into a double play before another ground out and the inning was over.
EIGHTH INNING
The Huskies had a one-out walk. After a strikeout, they had another single and runners were at the corners. UMC’s Isaac Wensloff, in relief, struck out the next batter to retire St. Cloud State.
In the bottom of the inning, Kappes was hit by a pitch and moved to second base on a passed ball. Hebl followed with a double to score an important insurance run for a 5-2 lead.
NINTH INNING
St. Cloud State’s leadoff batter flew out for the first out of the inning. The next batter struck out. The third batter of the inning singled, before the next batter fouled out and UMC earned the doubleheader split with a 5-2 victory.
UMC improves to 13-7 in the NSIC and 20-12 overall on the year. The Golden Eagles are in third place in the conference and will host the fourth-place team in the conference, Sioux Falls, with two games on Saturday and one game on Sunday. SCSU is 12-6 in the NSIC and 16-15 overall.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| SCSU | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 3 |
| UMC | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | – | 5 | 8 | 1 |
For UMC-
Tori Uhlich – 2 for 5, run, 2 stolen bases
Cole Hebl – 2 for 4, 2 rbi, run, 2 doubles
Jackson Fliflet – 1 for 2, rbi, stolen base
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Nate Heymann-UMC | 6.0 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Kaylor Chamberlain-UMC | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Isaac Wensloff-UMC | 1.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Kahler Key-SCSU | 4.0 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Brayden Simones-SCSU | 3.0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Seth Luther-SCSU | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
