LINDSBORG, Kan.- University of Minnesota Crookston pitcher Nolan Wahlberg (Jr., RHP, Blaine, Minn./Criminal Justice) pitched an eight-inning four-hitter as the Golden Eagles picked up a split with Bethany
College (Kan.) Friday afternoon at Anderson Field in Lindsborg, Kan. The Golden Eagles fell 5-2 in game one, but would pick up 6-4 win in game two led by Wahlberg.

UMC moved to 1-2 on the season as Head Coach Steve Gust picked up his first win in the Maroon and Gold. Bethany moved to 7-4 with Friday's split.

The Golden Eagles fell in game one to the Swedes 5-2 despite strong pitching from Luke Thoma (Jr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn./Natural Resources) and Trevor Buttermore (Jr., RHP, North St. Paul, Minn./Criminal Justice). Buttermore would get the start for the Golden Eagles and would pitch 2.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits. Thoma would come on in relief of Buttermore and have an outstanding outing. The junior would go 5.1 innings, giving up just one run on two hits with five strikeouts to 18 batters faced. He also gave up no walks.

UMC would however be unable to get their bats going on for the game with just two runs on six hits.

Bethany would get the scoring started for the game as Sammuel Ramirez scored on a sacrifice fly to right field off the bat of Nicholas Ceccarelli in the bottom of the first.

The Swedes would add three runs in the bottom of the third off Buttermore. Ceccarelli would cross the plate on a Weston Jacobs single. Jacobs would score later in the inning as Raymond Vasquez singled to center. The final run of the inning would cross as Vasquez scored on a Steven Velazquez-Perez doubled down the left field line.

The Golden Eagles would cut their deficit to 4-1 in the top of the fifth as Thomas Kinsella (Jr., IF, North Branch, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) scored on a David Anaya (So., IF, Tuscon, Ariz./Health Science) groundout.

After five innings of shutout pitching on the mound by Thoma, the Swedes would finally break through for another run as Jacobs crossed the plate on a Steven Rodriguez sacrifice fly.

The Golden Eagles would add a run in the top of the ninth as Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., 1B/P, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting) scored on a single from Colton Haight (Jr., C, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management).

Clayton Cozzitorto would get the win for Bethany after pitching a complete game and giving up just two runs, only one earned, on six hits. Buttermore would suffer the loss.

UMC was led by Haight, who was 2-for-4 with one RBI. Bethany looked to Jacobs in game one, who was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and one RBI. Vasquez was 2-for-4 with one run scored and one RBI.

In game two, Wahlberg would get the start for the Golden Eagles and would pitch a gem early on for UMC. Wahlberg would throw a no-hit shutout for UMC through the first four innings.

The Golden Eagles would get the scoring started in the top of the second in an error-plagued inning for the Swedes, as they would finish with three in the frame. Riley Thompson (Fr., OF, Owatonna, Minn./Criminal Justice) would score the first run of the game on an error by Bethany. After a misplayed grounder off the bat of Dalton Parks (Jr., OF, West Valley City, Utah/Sports and Rec Management), Patrick Higgins (So., OF, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) would score to make it 2-0.

With the bases loaded, Kenny Perez (Jr., DH/1B, Orlando, Fla./Health Science) would come through in the clutch with a single that would allow Zach Frazier (R-Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn./Natural Resources) and Parks to score to give the Golden Eagles a 4-0 advantage.

The Swedes would get their first base-runners of the game as Erik Pedersen was hit by a pitch to lead off the bottom of the fifth, followed by James Compomizzi and Kolton Mayall each reaching base on bunt singles. Bethany's first run of the game would cross as Ramirez pulled off the squeeze play with a bunt to third base, allowing Pederson to score and cut the deficit to 4-1. Wahlberg would come up in the clutch for UMC with runners still on second and third, getting Ceccarelli to fly out and Jacobs to groundout to get out of the inning with a 4-1 advantage.

Bethany would add a run in the bottom of the seventh as Velasquez-Perez crossed the plate on a Ramirez sacrifice fly to cut the UMC advantage to 4-2.

The Golden Eagles would add a run in the top of the eighth when Ethan Mushitz (Fr., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice) scored on a passed ball. UMC would extend their lead to 6-2 as Kinsella singled down the right field line to drive Haggstrom home.

Bethany would cut the lead to 6-4 as Pedersen doubled to right center to drive in Vasquez and Josiry Cirino in the bottom of the eighth.

Wahlberg would pitch eight innings in the win, giving up just four hits and one earned run with three walks as he picked up the win. Richie Navratil (Sr., RHP, Blansko, Czech Republic) would come on in the ninth and shut down the Swedes to earn the save.

The Golden Eagles were led by Mushitz, who was 2-for-2 and reached base every time up to bat with three walks. Perez was 1-for-4 with two RBI's,

Bethany was led in game two by Pedersen, who was 1-for-3 with two RBI's and one run scored.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
Follow the Golden Eagles on Facebook at Golden Eagle Sports and on Twitter at @UMCAthletics.

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).