CLEARWATER, Fla.- The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell in a 14-inning marathon Saturday morning and afternoon to Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) rival Upper Iowa University, 9-8. The Golden Eagles and Peacocks had an epic game at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla., in which both teams kept fighting back from deficits to force extra innings where Upper Iowa would come through in the 14th inning as freshman pinch-hitter Tyus Adkins hit a triple to score Jacob Stenberg in the top of the 14th for the game-winning run.

After a scoreless first and second inning, Upper Iowa would come through first as Mitch Moser doubled to score Adam Budron to make it 1-0. UMC would answer in the bottom of the third as David Anaya (So., 2B/SS, Tucson, Ariz./Health Science) would score on an errant throw from the pitcher, Garrison Becker.

The Peacocks would add two runs in the top of the fifth. Luis Ravelo would score on an error by Ethan Mushitz (Fr., 2B/SS, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice) at short stop. Later in the inning, Jacob Greco would score on an Eric Cottrell single.

UMC would take the 5-3 lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Dan Cwiertniak would come on to relieve Becker at the top of inning. Colton Haight (Jr., C, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) would score the first run on an error by the pitcher. A Dalton Parks (Jr., OF, West Valley City, Utah/Sports and Rec Management) single would drive in Jesse Jennings (Sr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice). Matt Banks would then come on to relieve Cwiertniak for the Peacocks. Anaya would score on a Banks wild pitch to cap off the inning for the Golden Eagles.

Upper Iowa would quickly take the lead back with four of their own in the top of the seventh to make it 7-5. An Alex George single would start the scoring, driving in Moser. After George's single, Cody Pamperin (So., RHP, Shakopee, Minn./Golf and Turf Management) would come on to relieve started Richie Navratil (Sr., RHP, Blansko, Czech Republic/Management). The first batter to face Pamperin, Cottrell, would double to plate George and Greco. Cottrell would later score on a single by Stenberg.

The Golden Eagles would get a run back in their half of the seventh to make it 7-6 as Kenny Perez (Jr., DH/1B, Orlando, Fla./Health Science) hit a sacrifice fly to score Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., 1B/P, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting).

Upper Iowa would add a run in the top of eighth as Moser scored on an error from Mushitz to make it 8-6 Peacocks.

Down to their last chance, UMC would come through in a big way in the bottom of the ninth. Haggstrom single would drive in Patrick Higgins (So., OF, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) to make it 8-7. Perez would then hit a single to drive in Haggstrom to knot up the score and send the team's to extra innings.

The two teams would scatter three hits as Ross Kulick came in for Upper Iowa and a plethora of pitchers for UMC including Marcus Campbell (Jr., RHP, St. Croix Falls, Wis./Golf and Turf Management), Wyatt Huso (R-Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn./Agricultural Systems Management), Cayden Barta (So., RHP, Fargo, N.D./Criminal Justice) and Haggstrom.

Upper Iowa would finally take the edge in the top of the 14th with two outs as Adkins tripled to drive in Stenberg off of Haggstrom, who had pitched strong to the first five batters he had faced.

The Golden Eagles had a chance to rally. Perez led off the inning with a single and was pinch-run for with Patrick Amerson (So., 2B/SS, Eloy, Ariz./Management). Amerson would get picked off at first, which would be argued by Head Coach Steve Gust with no success. Anaya and Parks would also reach base but the Golden Eagles wouldn't be able to come through with the winning run.

The loss went to Haggstrom who falls to 0-1 on the season. Charley Cunningham got the win for Peacocks.

UMC was led on the game by Thomas Kinsella (Jr., IF, North Branch, Minn./Sports and Rec Management), who was 5-of-7. Haggstrom was 2-of-7 with one RBI and two runs scored, while Anaya was 3-of-7 with two runs scored.

Upper Iowa was led by Cottrell, who was 4-of-7 with three RBI's and one run scored, and Moser, who was 4-of-6 with one RBI and two runs scored.

The Golden Eagles will have a day off Sunday before returning to play against Saint Michaels College at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. C.T. at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater Mon., March 16.

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).