Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 JOPLIN, Mo.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston fell 12-0 in game against Missouri Southern State University but battled back to give them a run in game two Sunday, falling 5-2 to a strong Lion squad. The Golden Eagles had a strong performance on the mound from Richie Navratil (Sr., P/3B, Blansko Czech Republic), who went seven innings, giving up three earned runs on 11 hits. Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-4 to open up the 2014 season, while Missouri Southern improves to 4-0.

After a scoreless first inning for both teams in game one, the Lions would get on the board in the bottom of the second as Beau Phillips doubled to left field to score Robbe Ewing and Brandon Weller.

Missouri Southern would extend their lead to 6-0 in the bottom of the third as Logan Moon singled to score Jared Lupo, who led off the inning with a single. Dusty Harper then followed that up with a two-run homer to plate himself and Moon. Weller would then hit a double down the right field line and would come across the plate as Graham singled to center field.

Matt Korte (Sr., P/3B/OF, St. Cloud, Minn.) would shut down the Lions in the next two innings. He would be replaced on the mound by Ryan Haggstrom (So., C/1B/P, Apple Valley, Minn.) in the sixth inning. Missouri Southern would get to Haggstrom, scoring six runs on one hit as Haggstrom walked four batters and hit another in the inning.

Korte would suffer the loss for UMC, after going five innings and giving up six earned runs on nine hits. Cody Pamperin (Fr., P, Shakopee, Minn.) would also pitch for UMC, improving on his performance from a night before, going one inning and giving up just two hits and no runs.

Ryan Bates would get the win for Missouri Southern after going five innings and pitching a shutout, while giving up four hits and striking out five UMC batters.

The Golden Eagles were led at the plate by Korte, who was 2-for-3 on the day, as was Tony Madsen (Sr., 2B/SS, Mounds View, Minn.).

Missouri Southern was paced by Weller, who played third base, and went 2-for-3 with one RBI and three runs scored. In addition, Harper was 1-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

In game two, the Lions would get a run off Navratil in the bottom of the first as Harper doubled to center to plate Moon, who had hit an infield single.

Missouri Southern would add one more run in the second inning when Austin White singled to right field to score Zack Steadman.

Only one runner would reach on an error in the third inning as Navratil displayed strong pitching for the Golden Eagles.

MSSU would add a run in the bottom of the fourth, to extend their lead to 3-0, as Steadman singled to left center to score Ewing, who had reached on an error to lead off the inning.

Two more runs would cross for the Lions in the fifth to extend their lead to 5-0.

The Golden Eagles would respond in the sixth as Haggstrom doubled down the left field line, continuing a strong weekend for the sophomore from Apple Valley, Minn. Haggstrom would cross the plate as Travis Magdzas (Jr., OF, Duluth, Minn.) came through with an infield single, which would allow Haggstrom and Patrick Higgins (Fr., OF, Eagan, Minn.) to cross the plate.

UMC would get a hit in the seventh and eight innings but couldn't string anything together as they would fall short, 5-2, despite a solid performance in game two.

Navratil would get the loss on the game, while Drew Noble picked up the win for Missouri Southern, going six innings, while giving up two earned runs on five hits. The save would go to Stephen Vaughn, who pitched the ninth and had three strikeouts, mowing down the Golden Eagles.

Cayden Barta (Fr., P, Fargo, N.D.) also pitched for Minnesota Crookston, going one inning and giving up just one hit.

 The Golden Eagle bats were led by Haggstrom, who went 2-for-4 with one run scored and Magdzas, who came off the bench, and went 2-for-2 with two RBI. Haggstrom had a strong opening weekend at the plate, hitting .462 with two runs scored and one RBI with six hits overall. Higgins also had a good first weekend, hitting .375 with three hits and two runs scored.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action Feb. 28 as they open a three-game, three-day series against University of Missouri-St. Louis.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website 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).