Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Minnesota, Crookston opened the 2013 season bright and early Friday morning at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn as first pitch was 6 a.m. The Golden Eagles lost both games of the doubleheader Friday to Upper Iowa University as they fall 6-1 in game one to the Peacocks and 8-1 in game two.
 
Matt Korte (Jr., P/IF/OF, St. Cloud, Minn.) started game one for the Golden Eagles and went five innings while giving up just three hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. Korte had four strikeouts on the game.
 
The Peacocks opened up the scoring in the game in the top of the second inning as Jose Aguirre, who reached on a throwing error by UMC third baseman Kameron Crandall (R-Fr., P/IF/OF, Zimmerman, Minn.), scored on a single by William Loza. Upper Iowa added to its lead in the inning as Tyler Adams doubled down the leftfield line to score John Dobson, who reached on a single.
 
Both teams were unable to get on the scoreboard in the third inning. In the fourth, the Golden Eagles were able to cut the Upper Iowa advantage to 2-1 as Crandall singled to center field, scoring Colton Haight (Fr., C/1B/OF, Rogers, Minn.), who had reached on a walk.
 
After five solid innings on the bump, the Golden Eagles went to the bullpen and Richie Navratil (So., P, Blansko, Czech Republic), a transfer from Jamestown College. The Peacocks were able to get to Navratil scoring two runs in the top of the sixth inning. Upper Iowa started the fourth-inning outburst as Adams singled to center field to score Ryan Citro and Dobson.  Navratil did a good pitching out of the jam as Upper Iowa would lead 4-1 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
 
Upper Iowa added two more runs in the top of the seventh to win the game 6-1 over UMC. Navratil ended up pitching two innings of relief giving up four runs on six hits. Brooks Miller (So., P/IF/OF, Moorhead, Minn.) led the team going 2-for-3 at the plate. Crandall, Josh Brehmer (Jr., 2B/SS, Roseville, Minn.) and Jordan Prill (Sr., 1B/OF, Melrose, Minn.) also had hits for the Golden Eagles.
 
In game two of the day, freshman Nathan Linstad (P/UT, Inkster, N.D.) got the start on the mound. Linstad would give up six runs on six hits in three innings while striking out three Peacock batters.
 
Upper Iowa started the scoring in the bottom of the second inning as Citro had a solo home run that barely made it over the left field wall and the out-reached glove of J.C. Crane (Sr., C/OF, Tucson, Ariz.) to put the Peacocks up 1-0 on UMC.
 
The Golden Eagles responded in the top of the third as Crandall led off the inning with a double to left field. Crandall crossed the plate on a Jesse Jennings (So., IF/OF, Robbinsdale, Minn.) ground out.
 
Upper Iowa had a big half of the inning in the bottom of the third as five runs would cross the plate on five hits off Linstad. The UMC pitcher walked in Samuel Kortes with the bases loaded to start off the scoring in the inning. With the bases still loaded, Andrew Kraus rocketed the ball well over the right field fence to instantly put the Peacocks up 6-1 in the game. Linstad was able to pitch out of the tough half inning to get the Golden Eagles to the top of the fourth.
 
Ryan Paasch (Jr., P, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) relieved Linstad in the fourth inning. Upper Iowa would score two runs off of Paasch in the fourth. Kraus was again the catalyst for the Peacocks as he doubled down the right field line to score Adams and Matt Corbitt. Paasch would hold Upper Iowa to only one hit in his final two innings of relief.
 
The Golden Eagles were led in the game by Crandall, who went 1-for-3 with one run scored. Tony Madsen (Jr., IF, Mounds View, Minn.) was 1-for-2 for the game. Ryan Haggstrom (Fr., C/1B, Apple Valley, Minn.) also got the first hit of his career as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning.
 
UMC will return to the Metrodome field beginning at 10:45 a.m. Sat., Feb. 16 against the University of Mary.
 
For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at www.goldeneaglesports.com.


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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).