MINNETONKA, Minn.- The University of Minnesota Crookston fell to Concordia University, St. Paul 12-2 and 6-2 Saturday at Veterans Field in Minnetonka, Minn., as the Golden Eagles opened up conference play. The Golden Eagles fall to 6-11 (0-2 NSIC) with the losses. The Golden Bears improve to 4-6 (2-0 NSIC) with the win.

The Golden Eagles fell in game one to the Golden Eagles 12-2. Richie Navratil (Sr. RHP, Blansko, Czech Republic/Management) went 2.2 innings in game one and would give up eight earned runs on 12 hits. Navratil got into good situations but errors and two-out rallies would lead the Golden Bears to the win. Concordia was 10-of-17 with two outs and had nine runs with two outs.

Concordia-St. Paul would start out the game as Eric Fasnacht hit a sacrifice fly to plate Ryan Poppitz.

The Golden Bears would come through with a big second and third inning scoring seven runs in the second and four in the third. The Concordia-St. Paul onslaught was led by a Poppitz triple to score Tyler Krekling. In addition, Trevon Bargfrede singled to drive in Andrew Shotwell and Fasnacht.

In the third, Fasnacht would hit a three-run homer to drive in Connor Olson and Poppitz.

UMC would cut the deficit to 12-2 in the fifth as Jesse Jennings (Sr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice) came up with a big hit, with a triple to left field to drive in Patrick Higgins (So., OF, Eagan, Minn./Golf and Turf Management) and Colton Haight (Jr. C, Buffalo, Minn./Sports and Rec Management).

Zach Rengel got the win for Concordia-St. Paul in game one, going six innings and giving up two runs on four hits.

The Golden Eagles were led on the game by Jennings, who was 2-of-2 with two RBI's in the game.

Concordia looked to Krekling, who was 3-of-4 with three runs scored. Olson was 3-of-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Fasnacht was 2-of-3 with four RBI's and two runs scored.

UMC got solid outings out of the bullpen from Wyatt Huso (R-Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn./Agricultural Systems Management), Cayden Barta (So., RHP, Fargo, N.D./Criminal Justice) and Marcus Campbell (Jr., RHP, St. Croix Falls, Wis./Golf and Turf Management). the three pitchers went 3.1 innings and gave up just one earned run on four hits.

In game two, Jarad Nelson (Jr., RHP, Karlstad, Minn./Elementary Education) got the start and would give up four earned run on eight hits in 7.2 inniongs pitched.

The Golden Eagles would open up the scoring in the top of the second as Zach Frazier (R-Fr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn./Natural Resources) singled to drive in Haight.

The Golden Bears would tally four runs in the bottom of the third inning. Krekling would hit a sacrifice fly to score David Henke to make it 1-1. Poppitz then singled to bring in Alex LaPorte. A Fasnacht double would drive in Poppitz and Kyle Dalton to give the Golden Bears the 4-1 lead over UMC.

The Golden Eagles would cut into the lead in the top of the sixth when Haight singled to drive home Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., 1B/P, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting) to make it 4-2.

The Golden Bears would add a run to make it 5-2 to in the bottom of the sixth as Fasnacht scored on an error by Ethan Mushitz (Fr., 2B/SS, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice) at short stop.

In the seventh, Poppitz would hit a fly to right field. The throw was made to home successfully and Frazier threw down to third but overthrew third base. The runner was staying at third but Haight missed the ball, allowing Dalton to score to make it 6-2.

The Golden Eagles would be kept at bay the rest of the way as Yuji Suzuki picked up the save.

Minnesota Crookston was led in game two by Haggstrom, who went 2-of-4 with one run scored, and Haight, who was 2-of-4 with a run scored and an RBI.

Dalton led the Golden Bears, going 2-of-4 with two runs scored. Fasnacht was 2-of-3 with two RBI's and one run scored. LaPorte was 2-of-3 with one run scored.

UMC is slated to play Concordia at 12 and 2 p.m. Sun., March 22 at Veterans Field in Minnetonka, Minn. Weather is forecasted for the area. Stay posted if the games are moved or anything changes with location and time.

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).