UMC Baseball beat Wayne State but falls to Winona State in NSIC tourney

The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team had outstanding pitching, solid offense and defense for an excellent all-around game as they beat the Wayne State College Wildcats 4-3 in a loser-out game in the Northern Sun Conference Baseball tournament at the Birdcage in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

FIRST INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion to start the game.
Wayne State had a one-out single before UMC’s Isaac Roers (Sr. Stacy) struck out the next two batters.

SECOND INNING
UMC led off the second inning with a one-out single by Aaron Wensloff (Jr. Roseau). The next two batters were retired.
Wayne State started the bottom of the inning with a single before the next two batters struck out and the next batter grounded out to short.

THIRD INNING
UMC’s Thomas Schumacher (Fresh. Thompson, ND) reached on an error after he laid down a bunt and it took a wild bounce, forcing the Wildcat pitcher to quickly throw to first, and it went into right field. Connor Bushbaum (Sr. Saginaw) singled, and with two outs, Cole Hebl (Soph. Hillsboro, ND) walked to load the bases. Jackson Fliflet (Soph. Wahpeton, ND), singled up the middle to score two runs, and the Golden Eagles took a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State had a threat going in the bottom of the inning with a one-out single and hit batter before the next two batters were retired.

FOURTH INNING
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.
Wayne State’s Easton Mains singled with one out, and Cain Madson was hit by a pitch before a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third base. The next batter hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score a run, and the Golden Eagles led 2-1 after four innings.

FIFTH INNING
UMC’s Bushbaum singled with one out, but was later out on a play at home on a Hebl hit to centerfield.
Wayne State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.

SIXTH INNING
UMC couldn’t have asked for a better start to the inning in the sixth as Jackson Fliflet (Soph. Wahpeton, ND) crushed a blast over the left field fence for a solo homerun for a 3-1 lead.
Wayne State had a one-out single before the next two batters were retired.

SEVENTH INNING
The first two UMC batters were retired before Bushbaum doubled, Elias Leach (Fresh. Plymouth), and Hebl walked to load the bases. The next batter flew out to deep centerfield, and the Golden Eagle threat was over.
Wayne State started the inning with a solo homerun to get within a 3-2 deficit, but Roers retired the next three batters.

EIGHTH INNING
The Golden Eagles had a big-time insurance run when Americo Sculati (Sr. Golden Valley) blasted a shot over the left field fence for a solo home run for a 4-2 lead.
Wayne State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion in the bottom of the inning.

NINTH INNING
UMC was retired in a 1-2-3 fashion with a lineout, a strikeout, and another lineout and took a 4-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.
The Golden Eagle’s Roers finished strong with a strikeout. After an infield single, he got the next batter to hit a pop fly in foul territory and UMC catcher Fliflet made a diving grab in front of the dugout for the second out of the inning. The next batter flew out to left field and UMC won the game 4-2.

UMC improves to 27-24 on the year and will play the loser of MSU-Mankato and Winona State at about 6:30 tonight in another loser-out game.
Wayne State’s season ends with a record 29-23 on the year.

Click above to listen to Coach Steve Gust’s comment

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
UMC	0	0	2	0	0	1	0	1	0	4	9	0
Wayne	0	0	0	1	0	0	1-	0	0	2	7	1

For UMC-
Connor Bushbaum – 3 for 5, run, double
Jackson Fliflet – 2 for 4, 3 rbi, run, homerun
Americo Sculati – 1 for 4, rbi, run, homerun
Hebl, A. Wensloff, and Kappes had one hit each.

For Wayne State-
Max Heard – 3 for 4, run, double
Braden Cannon – 1 for 4, 2 rbi, run, homerun

Pitching	IP	H	R	ER	BB	K
Isaac Roers – UMC	9.0	7	2	2	0	7
B. Sweet – WSC	6.0	6	3	1	1	5
J. Coleman – WSC	1.0	1	0	0	3	1
B. Kneifl – WSC	2.0	2	1	1	0	2

UMC vs Winona State

FIRST INNING
UMC had a great start to the game with an Elias Leach single, but he was out on a fielder’s choice for two outs. Jackson Fliflit walked and run scored on an error for a 1-0 lead.
Winona State led off the bottom of the inning with a Connor Weed solo homerun to tie the game at 1-1. After a strikeout, Adam Will singled and scored on an error for a 2-1 lead.

SECOND INNING
UMC’s Kyler Miller was hit by a pitch with one out and after another out, Connor Bushbaum singled. The next batter was retired.
Winona State had a one out single and after an out, another single, but the next batter struck out and the inning was over.

THIRD INNING
UMC’s Hebl led off the inning with a single. After a groundout, Aaron Wensloff walked. The next batter flew out to right field, and Hebl tagged up and scored, but the umpire said he left early and was called out. After a UMC challenge, the umpires said he had left early and was out, and the half-inning was over.
The Warriors’ first two batters were retired before Ethan Patterson reached on an error, and Max Peterson hit a two-run home run for a 4-1 lead.

FOURTH INNING
UMC’s Miller reached on an error with one out but the next two batters were retired.
The first two Winona State batters were retired before a walk. The next batter struck out and Winona State led 4-1.

FIFTH INNING
With one out, Hebl was hit by a pitch. Fliflet was also hit by a pitch in the head and he was shaken up, but was able to take his base. The next two batters were retired.
Winona State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion.

SIXTH INNING
The first two UMC batters grounded out before Jayden Norman drew a walk. The next batter flew out.
Winona State was retired in 1-2-3 fashion for the second straight inning.

SEVENTH INNING
Crookston’s Leach singled to start the inning. He advanced to second on a wild pitch and later scored on a wild pitch to bring the Golden Eagles within a 4-2 deficit.
Winona State started the bottom of the inning with a hit batter and an rbi single. The next two batters were retired before a single knocked in another run for a 6-2 lead.

EIGHTH INNING
Crookston’s Sculati doubled to start the inning. After the next two batters were retired, Jayden Norman walked and Bushbaum singled to score a run to get within a 6-3 deficit.
Winona State’s first two batters were retired before a hit batter and a single. The next Warrior flew out to left field and the inning was over.

NINTH INNING
Crookston needed at least three runs to keep their season going, but were retired in 1-2-3 fashion and Winona State won the game 6-3.

UMC’s season comes to an end with a record of 27-25 and will say goodbye to the following: Isaac Wensloff, Kyle Odenbach, Joey Connelly, Americo Sculati, Isaar Roers, Connor Bushbaum, Aaron Bennett, and Jackson Bennett.