The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle baseball team‘s season came to an end on Thursday, as they fell to the Bulldogs of Minnesota-Duluth 11-5 in the loser’s bracket of the NSIC Tournament.
FIRST INNING
Josh Dykhoff (Jr., Wadena) got a two-out single in the 1st, but a lineout, groundout and flyout ended the inning quickly for UMC.
In the home half of the inning, Nate Benning (So., Browerville) started with a three-pitch strikeout, but then Joey Flom doubled down the right field line. After that, Nate Rosenberg singled up the middle, scoring the first run of the game. A flyout would end the inning at 1-0 Bulldogs.
SECOND INNING
UMC would go down in order in the 2nd inning, on two groundouts and a strikeout.
Gabe Richardson led off the 2nd with a double, and then with one out, Michael Gabbard doubled to bring in Richardson, making it 2-0 Bulldogs. Benning would then get back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
THIRD INNING
The Golden Eagles would get a two-out single from Dylan Debilzen (Fr., Parkers Prairie) in the 3rd, but three flyouts would quickly end the inning.
After two quick outs, Troy Lynch and Garrett Stauffacher both walked to threaten again for the Bulldogs. However, Benning induced a groundout, and for the only time this game, Minn. Duluth did not score in an inning.
FOURTH INNING
UMC got the bats going in the 4th inning. Dykhoff led off with a homerun to cut the lead to 2-1, and then with one out, Aaron Wensloff (So., Roseau) also went yard for a solo shot, tying the game at 2 apiece. Kobe Senn (Sr., Fargo, ND) then doubled with two outs, but Danny Wensloff (Sr., Roseau) would ground out to end the inning, keeping the game tied.
In the home half, Gabbard doubled for the second time. He was still on second with two outs, when Sam Kliber drove him in with a single to center, giving the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
FIFTH INNING
UMC got two quick outs in the 5th inning, but then, on a 2-2 pitch, Brock Larsen (Jr., Blaine) delivered with a solo home run down the right field line, tying the game at 3. Dykhoff would then ground out to end the inning.
The Bulldogs, again, responded immediately, as Rosenberg led off the home half of the 5th with a homer to left center, making it 4-3 Bulldogs. Benning would be pulled with two outs for Isaac Roers, who would get a lineout to end the inning.
SIXTH INNING
Sawyer Satrom (Sr., Portland, ND) led off the 6th inning with a double for UMC. Then, with one out, Americo Sculati (Jr., Golden Valley) walked, putting runners on second and first. Senn would ground into a force play at second, putting runners at the corners with two outs, but Danny Wensloff couldn’t come through, flying out to left to end the inning.
A walk, a sacrifice bunt and another walk put runners on second and first. Flom would then drive in one with a base hit, and Rosenberg would follow suit with a sacrifice fly, giving the Bulldogs a 6-3 lead through 5 innings.
SEVENTH INNING
Caden Kappes (So., Wahpeton, ND) led off the 7th inning for the Golden Eagles with a pinch-hit single. Then, after two outs, Dykhoff delivered again with a mammoth 2-run shot down the right field line, cutting the lead to 6-5. Satrom would get another hit, but would be stranded at second to end the inning.
It looked like Isaac Roers (Jr., Stacy) would get a quick inning, after getting two groundouts on 4 pitches. But then, Kade Peloquin went opposite field for a solo homerun, giving the Bulldogs a 7-5 lead. Gabbard would hit his third double of the game next, but would be left stranded by Joey Connelly, who relieved Roers and got a popout to end the inning.
EIGHTH INNING
After a popout, back-to-back walks got two on for the Golden Eagles. After another out, a wild pitch put runners on second and third for Dylan Debilzen. However, after an 8 pitch at bat, he struck out to end the inning scoreless for UMC.
The Bulldogs were able to put it away in the bottom of the 8th. Kilber led things off with a solo home run to make it 8-5, and then with one out, two base hits and an intentional walk loaded the bases. A wild pitch by Nate Grafsgaard made it 9-5, and then Richardson put the nail in the coffin, driving in two with a single, making it 11-5 after 8 innings.
NINTH INNING
Brock Larsen led off the 9th inning with a walk, but three straight outs after that ended the game, giving the Bulldogs an 11-5 win.
UMC’s season comes to an end with a 23-29 record.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 1 |
| Duluth | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | X | 11 | 14 | 1 |
For UMC-
Josh Dykhoff – 3 for 5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Brock Larson – 1 for 4, HR, BB
Aaron Wensloff – 1 for 5, HR
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Nate Benning-UMC | 4.2 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| Isaac Roers – UMC | 2.0 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Joey Connelly – UMC | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nate Graftsgaard – UMC | 1.0 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| Henry Wilkinson-UMD | 6.2 | 10 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Connor Nygard – UMD | 0.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Zach Kuseske – UMD | 1.2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
