On a day that featured two games with ten combined home runs and 42 combined runs total, the University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team managed to salvage a split against the Winona State Warriors, losing 9-3 followed by a 20-10 win at UMC’s baseball field on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Eagle Baseball Program is also holding a fundraiser to support Zach Seipel, a Golden Eagle pitcher from 2016-18 and 27th round pick of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Atlanta Braves, who is currently battling testicular cancer. Information about the fundraiser and subsequent purple jersey auction on Sunday are below.
GAME ONE – FIRST INNING
Winona State got off to a great start, as an error led off the game before Dylan Harer delivered an RBI double, putting the Warriors up 1-0. Then, after a lineout, Jack Funke delivered an RBI single, making it 2-0. A hit by pitch followed, and then Ethan Patterson then delivered a single to put WSU up 3-0 at the end of the frame.
UMC would be set down in order in the bottom of the first on a groundout and two strikeouts.
SECOND INNING
Winona State got a one-out single in the second inning, but Isaac Wensloff got a groundout and a strikeout to end the inning, putting a zero on the board for the Warriors.
Americo Sculati led things off in the bottom of the second with his tenth home run of the year to dead center, cutting the lead to 3-1. The next three batters would be retired in order.
THIRD INNING
Winona State brought eleven batters to the inning in the top of the third. The first two batters were hit by a pitch, and then after a sacrifice bunt, a walk would load the bases. Garrett Hietpas would single in a run to make it 4-1, and then an error brought home two more, turning the lead into a 6-1 affair. The next batter would line out, but a throwing error while trying to double off a runner scored a run, making it 7-1. Following that, Dylan Harer hit a two-run hoime run the opposite way, giving WSU a 9-1 lead. UMC would make a pitching change, and afyer two walks, a groundout would mercifully end the inning.
UMC got a one-out single from Kyler Miller in the bottom of the inning, but he would be left stranded at second after a groundout and a strikeout.
FOURTH INNING
Winona State got two runners on with an error and a base hit, but they were left stranded on two groundouts and a flyout. All five batters who came up swung at the first pitch.
UMC tried to rally in the bottom of the fourth, as they got a leadoff walk followed by a one-out single from Cole Hebl. However, a flyout and subsequent groundout would strand those two runners, keeping the score at 9-1 headed into the fifth.
FIFTH INNING
Winona State got a two-out single in the fifth inning, but Jake Jaroswewski continued efficient pitching to retire the side afterward, keeping the score 9-1.
After two quick outs, UMC got two runners on with a single by Tori Uhlich and a walk to Elias Leach. However, a flyout would end the threat.
SIXTH INNING
In the sixth, the Warriors got a one-out single, but new reliever Braden Nelson came in to shut things down, getting a strikeout and a flyout to end the frame.
After two quick outs in the bottom of the inning, Jackson Fliflet delivered a solo home run to left field, cutting the lead down to 9-2. This seemed to spark something in the Golden Eagle bats, as they got three straight singles, capped off by an RBI single from Kyler Miller, cutting the lead to 9-3 before the inning came to an end.
SEVENTH INNING
The Warriors had their fourth hit batsman to start the inning, but a popout followed by a 3-6-3 double play ended the inning with Nelson facing the minimum.
The Golden Eagles were retired in order in the seventh, giving the Warriors a 9-3 victory in game 1.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | |
| WSU | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 9 | 0 |
| UMC | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 4 |
For UMC-
Kyler Miller – 2 for 3, RBI
Jackson Fliflet – 1 for 3, HR
Americo Sculati – 1 for 4, HR
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Isaac Wensloff – UMC (LP) | 2.2 | 6 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Jake Jarozsewski – UMC | 2.2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Braden Nelson – UMC | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Saywer Hoffman – WSU (WP) | 6 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Boyd Skelley – WSU | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
GAME TWO –
FIRST INNING-
A leadoff throwing error followed by a double from Dylan Harer put two on with nobody out. A groundout would score a run to put the Warriors up 1-0, but starting pitcher Nate Benning settled down, getting a foulout and a flyout to end the inning with just one run on the board.
Unlike the first game, UMC responded in spades in the bottom of the first inning. After a groundout, Aaron Wensloff singled and Americo Sculati doubled to put two on, for Cole Hebl, who uncorked a mammoth three-run home run to dead center field, putting the Golden Eagles up 3-1. The next batter was Jackson Fliflet, and he drilled one over the wall to left field, putting UMC up 4-1. UMC then got a single and a double to put two on again, which chased the WSU starter. Caden Kappes would then groundout to drive in one run, and Kyler Miller would single to drive in another run, putting the Golden Eagles up 6-1 at the end of the opening inning.
SECOND INNING
Winona State was retired in order in the second inning on two flyouts and a strikeout.
Cole Hebl got a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, but otherwise the Golden Eagles were sent down quietly.
THIRD INNING
After a leadoff strikeout, a single and a hit-by-pitch put two runners on. Yet another UMC error scored a run, cutting the lead to 6-2, before a flyout and a lineout ended the inning with no more damage.
In the bottom of the frame, Elias Leach led off by sending one down the left field line and over the wall to put UMC up 7-2. Later in the inning, a hit-by-pitch and a walk put two runners on, and after a double steal, Aaron Wensloff doubled down the right field line scored two runs, giving the Golden Eagles a 9-2 lead before the inning came to a close.
FOURTH INNING
A leadoff walk and a one-out double from Garrett Hietpas allowed a two-run double for Winona State, which cut the lead down to 9-4. Again, though, Benning was able to settle down, getting a flyout and a foulout to end the inning, keeping the damage to just two.
In the bottom of the inning, a leadoff single led to Fliflet bombing his second home run of the game, restoring the seven-run advantage wat 11-4. The Golden Eagles put more pressure on the basepaths with a single and a hit by pitch, but a strikeout ended the threat, keeping the lead at 11-4.
FIFTH INNING
With one out in the fifth, back-to-back walks chased Nate Benning out of the game, in favor of Lake Hagen. He would strike out the two batters he faced, ending the inning with no runs.
UMC would be retired in order in the bottom of the inning on two flyouts and a strikeout.
SIXTH INNING
Winona State would make a huge surge in the top of the sixth. A leadoff walk followed by a single would put two on, and after a groundout, Harer doubled in those two run to cut the lead to 11-6. Then, Adam Wall clubbed a two-run home run to cut the lead further, down to 11-8. After a pitching change, a groundout was followed by a walk, and that brought up Connor Weed who also added a two-run homer, bringing the lead all the way down to one at 11-10. Back-to-back walks followed, and after another pitching change, a strikeout mercifully ended the inning with UMC clinging on to an 11-10 advantage.
The home run barrage would not stop; after a one-out single, Connor Bushbaum pulled one over the left field fence to give UMC some more breathing room with a 13-10 lead. Kyler Miller hit a two-out double a bit later, but was left stranded on a groundout.
SEVENTH INNING
A leadoff walk in the top of the seventh was quickly erased by a 6-4-3 double play, forcing two quick outs. Wall would then double, but a lineout would follow and end the inning.
The Golden Eagles started the bottom of the frame with three straight singles, capped off by an RBI hit from Hebl to make it 14-10. After a walk, Connor Bushbaum would drive in one run, and a second run would score on a throwing error to suddenly put UMC up by six. Bushbaum would then score on a wild pitch. Following that was a single and back-to-back hit by pitches, allowing Aaron Wensloff to increase the lead to 19-10 on a two run single. That would be the score at the end of the inning.
EIGHTH INNING
Winona State spoiled a leadoff walk with three straight outs following it.
Cole Hebl decided to end the game by run rule in the eighth, clubbing his second home run of the game and the sixth for UMC in the game to win 20-10 and split the doubleheader.
UMC is now 24-19 on the year, 17-14 in the NSIC. WSU is now 22-21, 17-13 in the conference.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | R | H | E | |
| WSU | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 3 |
| UMC | 6 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 20 | 23 | 2 |
For UMC-
Cole Hebl – 5 for 6, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Jackson Fliflet – 2 for 5, 2 HR, 3 RBI
Elias Leach – 4 for 4, HR, 4 R
Connor Bushbaum – 3 for 5, HR, 4 RBI, 3 R
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Nate Benning- UMC | 4.1 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
| Lake Hagen – UMC | 1.0 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Ashton Detloff – UMC | 0.1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Kaylor Chamberlain – UMC | 2.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| Ryan Buchta – WSU | 0.1 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Logan LaPlante – WSU | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brayden Deering – WSU | 1.2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Cayden Mueller – WSU | 1.0 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Eli Babler – WSU | 1.2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| Peyton Lee – WSU | 0.2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Max Strecker – WSU | 0.2 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Dylan Roher – WSU | 0.1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
