Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 CROOKSTON, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team battled hard in a pair of games against Southwest Minnesota State University but fell 8-5 and 7-6 to the Mustangs Fri., April 25 at the UMC Baseball Field in Crookston, Minn. The UMC batters were on fire Friday, with 23 hits on the day, but the Mustangs used big innings with five runs on the sixth in game two and  six runs in the sixth inning of game one.

The Golden Eagles remain winless in conference play despite close games in their last four with Southwest Minnesota State and Bemidji State. Minnesota Crookston is 1-38 (0-27 NSIC), while Southwest Minnesota State improves to 19-20 (10-13 NSIC).

On the day, UMC's top three batters in their order, Josh Brehmer (Sr., 2B/SS, Falcon Heights, Minn./Communications), Patrick Higgins (Fr., OF, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) and Ryan Haggstrom (So., C/1B/P, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting) had stand out days. The trio combined to go 15-of-24 (.625 batting average) with eight RBI's and five runs scored.

Matt Korte (Sr., P/3B, St. Cloud, Minn./Accounting) got the game one start and would pitch strong in his first five innings, giving up just two earned runs on six hits. Korte however would struggle in the sixth inning, giving up six runs on four hits. He would finish the game, pitching five innings and giving up seven earned runs on nine hits in the loss.

The Golden Eagles started the scoring in the first after Brehmer led off the inning with a single. After a stolen base, a sacrifice from Higgins would move him over. Haggstrom would then hit a sacrifice fly to bring Brehmer home to make it 1-0.

SMSU would first get to Korte in the third as Jordon Kontz singled to drive in Jason Minett. Ben Korger would cross on a wild pitch. SMSU would lead 2-1 after the inning.

The Golden Eagles would take a 4-2 lead in the fourth as a Brehmer single to center field drove home  Tony Madsen (Sr., SS/2B, Mounds View, Minn./Natural Resources). A Haggstrom single would drive in Brehmer and Higgins to complete the scoring in the inning.

After a scoreless fifth, SMSU would explode for six runs in the sixth. With the bases loaded and no out, Minett would be walked to make it 4-3. With the bases still juiced, Korger singled to drive home Ryan Engels and Sam Haas.

Ryan Paasch (Sr., P, Sauk Rapids, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) would then come on in relief of Korte.  A Pat Rients triple would drive home Kontz and Minett. Rients would score on a wild pitch to make it 8-4 Mustangs.

UMC would cut the deficit when Haggstrom singled to drive in Jesse Jennings (Jr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice).

Mitch Wurm would get the win for Southwest Minnesota State. He pitched six innings, giving up three earned runs on 11 hits. Brandan Alfson came on relief in the seventh to earn the save as he shut down UMC.

Cody Pamperin (Fr., P, Shakopee, Minn./Golf and Turf Management) pitched the seventh in game for Minnesota Crookston, continuing his strong pitching of late.

The Golden Eagles were led on the game by Brehmer, who was 3-of-4 with one RBI and two runs scored, and Haggstrom, who was 2-of-3 with four RBI's.

SMSU looked to Korger, who went 2-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored. Haas was 2-of-4 with one run scored.

Richie Navratil (Sr., P, Blansko, Czech Republic/Sports and Rec Management) got the start for Minnesota Crookston. He went 5.1 innings, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits. Navratil pitched strong early on, giving up just one earned run on six hits in the first five innings. Southwest Minnesota State would explode for five runs on five hits in the sixth.

UMC started out the scoring in the first. Colton Haight (So., C, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) opened the game two scoring as he doubled to left field to drive in Haggstrom and Brehmer.

SMSU cut the lead to 2-1 as Korger singled to drive in Tanner Neale.

The Golden Eagles would extend their lead to 3-1 in the fifth when Higgins doubled down the left field line to drive in Brehmer.

The Mustangs would start their sixth inning onslaught as Austin Stubbs singled to drive in Rients. An error by Madsen would allow Stubbs to score. A bunt single for Engels would drive in Jon Ellis. Minett was then walked with the bases loaded to drive in Haas.

Cayden Barta (Fr., P, Fargo, N.D./Criminal Justice) would then come on in relief. A walk of Korger with the bases loaded would allow Engels to score.

Minnesota Crookston would cut the lead to 7-4 in eighth led by a Haight double to drive in Haggstrom.

After strong pitching from Pamperin in the ninth left the score at 7-4. The Golden Eagles would have one last chance and would make the most of it. With two outs, UMC looked to rally. Jennings would single to give UMC a chance. Brehmer then double to center field to move Jennings to third. With Alfson now on, Higgins would single up the middle to drive in Brehmer and Jennings to cut the lead to 7-6.

With two outs and the tying run on, the Golden Eagles had their best hitter up to bat in Haggstrom, who is hitting .355 for the game. However SMSU got Haggstrom out to hang on for 7-6 lead.

Joe Axelson got the win for Mustangs, going 8.2 innings and giving up six earned runs on 11 hits. Alfson would get the save giving up no earned runs on one hit.

Brehmer led the Golden Eagles in game two, going 3-of-5 with three runs scored. Higgins was 2-of-4 with three RBI's, while Haggstrom was 3-of-5 with two runs scored and Haight was 2-of-4 with three RBI's.

Rients led the Mustangs, going 3-of-5 with two runs scored, while Ellis was 2-of-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

The Golden Eagles will host the Mustangs at 12 and 2 p.m. to round out the series with Southwest Minnesota State.

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).