The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagle Baseball team had four players back in the line up that didn’t play on Friday and they scored two runs in the seventh inning for a 4-3 victory over the Minot State Beavers in the regular-season finale in Minot. With the win, UMC will play at Minot State in the first round of the NSIC tournament on Thursday, May 13.
UMC had a great start to the game with some big-time players back in the line-up and Ben Bryant (Sr. Fargo, ND) led off with a single, Mason Ruhlman (Sr. Algonac, Mich) walked before Brock Reller (Sr. Grand Forks) doubled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. After a strikeout, Ruhlman scored on a wild pitch and the Golden Eagles led 2-0.
Minot State responded with a run in the third inning after a bunt single, walk and a run scored on a double play to cut UMC’s lead to 2-1.
Minot State added another run in the bottom of the fifth. They scored a run after a bunt single, a stolen base, an error, and a wild pitch to tie the game at 2-2.
Minot State took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with a two out rally. It looked like UMC got the third out on a strikeout, but the ball got by the catcher and reached first and later scored another passed ball.
UMC responded with back to back home runs in the top of the seventh inning when Ruhlman and Reller gave their team a 4-3 lead.
Neither team scored the rest of the way and UMC held on for a 4-3 victory.
UMC ends the regular season 23-10 overall and 18-10 in the NSIC. UMC finishes fifth place and they were edged out of a home playoff series by . 004 points in the standings. Minot State drops to 22-12 in the NSIC and 24-15 overall.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
| UMC | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 2 |
| Minot State | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Matt Nelson-UMC (WP) | 5.2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 12 |
| Tyler Hegg – UMC | 1.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Brody Sorenson-UMC (S) | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Dominick Parkhurst-MSU | 4.0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Jordan Chappell – MSU | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Trevyn Badger – MSU (LP) | 1.1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Craig Schmich – MSU | 0.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cameron Bagshaw-MSU | 0.1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Aaron Kern – MSU | 1.2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
For UMC
Brock Reller 2-2, double, Home Run, 2 rbi, 2 runs, 2 walks
Mason Ruhlman 2-4, Home Run, 2 runs, rbi
For Minot State
Ryley Humrighouse 2-3, 2 runs, stolen base
Kaiden Cardoso 1-3, walk
