Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston Golden Eagles lost a pair of Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference baseball games to the Southwest Minnesota State University Mustangs by scores of 2-0 and 5-2. With the pair of losses the Golden Eagles drop to 1-40 (1-26 NSIC) on the season while the Mustangs improve to 16-23-1 (10-13 NSIC).The games were supposed to be played in Marshall but were relocated to Crookston due to the field conditions in Marshall.
 
In game one, the Golden Eagles sent J.C. Crane (Sr., C/OF/P, Tucson, Ariz.) to the mound while the Mustangs sent right hander Corby McGlauflin.
 
The Mustangs got the scoring started right away in the first inning off of Crane. Jon Ellis led the inning off with a single and advanced to second via a rare play where he tagged up on a pop out to the catcher Colton Haight (Fr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn.) Kyle Young would then single Ellis home. At the end of the first inning the Mustangs held a 1-0 lead.
 
The Mustangs added another run in the bottom of the third frame. Ellis reached on an infield hit then he stole second base. Jordan Kontz singled to center field which plated Ellis. Crane was able to get Steve Kremer to ground into an inning ending double play.
 
UMC had a threat in the top of the sixth inning. Josh Brehmer (Jr., 2B/SS, Roseville, Minn.) continued his hot hitting as he led the inning off with an infield single. Matt Korte (Jr., P/IF/OF, St. Cloud, Minn.) successfully executed a sacrifice bunt to move Brehmer to second. Crane walked. Senior Jordan Prill (1B/OF/P, Melrose, Minn.) struck out looking. Mustang catcher Tanner Neale threw Brehmer out on a pickoff attempt to stop the Golden Eagle threat and keep the Mustangs in the lead at 2-0 which would prove to be the final score.
 
Crane would get tagged with the lost even though he had his second-straight strong pitching outing.  He pitched all six innings, allowed six hits,  two runs both of which were earned with one walk and two strikeouts. Crane's record drops to 0-6. McGlauflin got the win for SMSU. He pitched seven innings, gave up five hits, one walk and struck out seven UMC batters. McGlauflin's record improved to 2-1 with the victory.
 
The Golden Eagles offensively were led by Brehmer who was a perfect 3-for-3 in game one. Haight and Jesse Jennings (So., IF/OF, Robbinsdale, Minn.) also had hits. The Mustangs were led by Ellis who was 3-for-3 with two runs scored. Kontz and Young each had a hit and a RBI.
 
In game two Jon Mittag (Jr., P, Glenville, Minn.)  got the ball for UMC and SMSU went toe-to-toe with Steven Wehr.
UMC took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning.  Jeremiah Friday  (So., C/1B, Rush City, Minn.) reached on an error. Tony Madsen (Jr., IF, Mounds View, Minn.) and Ryan Haggstrom (Fr., C/OF/P, Apple Valley, Minn.) both singled sharply to center. Haggstrom's single plated Friday and the first run of game two.  
SMSU tied the game at one with back-to-back doubles by Kremer and Young with the latter plating Kremer in the bottom half of the third inning.
 
The Mustangs pulled ahead in their half of the fifth inning. Ellis led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a hit by pitch by the following hitter Kontz. Mittag got the designated hitter Kremer to ground into to a double play. Young, however, followed with a double that put SMSU into the lead 2-1.
 
Leading off the sixth inning for UMC, Prill launched a ball that was very close to tying the game but it was a foot or two foul. Wehr was able to compose himself to retire Prill and the next two batters to keep the Mustangs in front.
 
The Golden Eagles threatened again in the top of the seventh inning Madsen reached on a strikeout and then a passed ball by the Mustang catcher. He then advanced to third on a single by Haggstrom. Wehr was able to retire Brehmer and Korte to keep the Mustangs in the lead.
 
SMSU would break the game open in the bottom of the seventh and chase starting pitcher Mittag from the game. Ben Korger led the inning off with a double. Ellis reached on an error and Korger scored. Kontz then singled to right which moved Ellis over to third. Kremer hit a sacrifice fly to plate Ellis which would be the end of the day for Golden Eagle starter Mittag. Mittag's final stat line was a solid one. He pitched six-and-one-third innings, allowed nine hits, five runs but only two earned with one walk and four strikeouts.
 
Reliever Ryan Paasch (Jr., P, Sauk Rapids, Minn.) came into face the heart of the Mustang order. Young struck out. Brian Ness singled to right which scored Kontz. Paasch struck out the next Mustang batter but the damage had been done. SMSU leads 5-1 after seven innings.
 
SMSU starter Wehr was fantastic on the mound. He pitched eight innings, allowed five hits, one run which was not earned, one walk and eight strikeouts. Landon Gacke came in to pitch to the Golden Eagles in ninth.
Gacke was greeted by solo home run by Haight. The home run was Haight's first of his college career. UMC's comeback ended there however. Gacke retired the next three batters and the Golden Eagles fell by a score of 5-2.
 
In game two, the Golden Eagles were led by Prill and Haggstrom each had two hits and Haight also had the home run in the ninth. The Mustangs were led by Ellis who had two hits and two runs scored. Young also had a good day with two hits both of which were doubles and two RBIs. On the pitching side of things, Wehr improved his record to 2-3 on the year while Mittag was tagged with the loss and drops to 0-8.
 
Both teams will return to action in another NSIC doubleheader tomorrow at the UMC Baseball Field. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 12 p.m. while game two is scheduled for around 2 p.m. The games will be the last of the season for the Golden Eagles with Prill, Espinoza and Crane playing their final games in the Maroon and Gold Sunday.
 
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).
                                       
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