SIOUX FALLS, S.D.- The University of Minnesota Crookston lost a heartbreaker in the seventh inning 8-7 and a marathon offensive showdown 21-17 Tuesday against University of Sioux Falls in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagle bats were alive and well but pitching struggles plagued the Golden Eagles as they dropped to 7-18 (1-9 NSIC). Sioux Falls improved to 9-17 (5-4 NSIC) with the victory.

Richie Navratil (Sr., RHP, Blansko, Czech Republic/Management) got the start and pitched well in game one, giving up four earned runs on eight hits with four strikeouts, leaving the game with the lead.

Minnesota Crookston got out of the gate quick in game one as they took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Thomas Kinsella (Jr., IF, North Branch, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) doubled to drive in Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., 1B/RHP, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting).

The Golden Eagles would build on their lead as Colton Haight (Jr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) scored on an error by the first baseman to push UMC's lead out to 2-0.

UMC would add another run in the third inning as errors kept UMC's inning alive with two outs. Haight would reach this time on an error at first base, allowing Kinsella to score to put the Golden Eagles up 3-0.

The Golden Eagles would continue their streak of scoring in the fourth inning as Ethan Mushitz (Fr., 2B/SS, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice) doubled to center field to drive in Kenny Perez (Jr., DH/1B, Orlando, Fla./Health Science) to make it 4-0.


Sioux Falls would cut into the UMC lead when Tony  Stanich tripled to right center to drive in Ed Reichenbach and Matthew Minnick. The Cougars would add another run as Tanner Olthoff singled to drive in Stanich and make it 4-3.

The Golden Eagles would bounce back with three runs of their own in the fifth to push their lead out to 7-3, again aided by Sioux Falls errors. Haggstrom would single, an error by the left fielder would allow Patrick Higgins (So., OF, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) to score. UMC added their sixth run as Kinsella hit a sacrifice fly to right field to plate
Haggstrom. The seventh run of the game would cross as UMC's RBI leader Perez came through in the clutch. The junior would double to drive in Haight.

The Cougars would add a run in the bottom of the fifth when Noah Durkin doubled to drive in Gunner Peterson to cut the deficit to 7-4.

Sioux Falls would add a run in the bottom of the sixth off Cody Pamperin (So., RHP, Shakopee, Minn./Golf and Turf Management) who came on in relief. Stanich would score on an Olthoff groundout.

The Cougars would come through with three runs in the bottom of the seventh off Pamperin to pick up the win. The winning run would cross as Olthoff singled to drive in Stanich to make it 8-7.

Pamperin would suffer the loss for UMC after giving up four earned runs on five hits in 1.2 innings pitched.

Gibson got the win for Sioux Falls after giving up no runs on one hit in two innings.

UMC was led in game one by Perez, who was 2-of-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Haggstrom was also 2-of-4 with two runs scored and one RBI.

Game two would be an offensive explosion for both teams. The Golden Eagles would start things out with nine runs in the top of the second. Perez would single to drive in Haight. Mushitz would then come up with a two-run single to drive in Perez and David Anaya (So., 2B/SS, Tuscon, Ariz./Health Science). With the bases loaded, Higgins would single to drive in Zach Frazier (R-Fr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn./Natural Resources) to extend the lead to 4-0. Haggstrom would then hit a sacrifce fly to drive in Mushitz. Parks would follow it up by scoring on a passed ball to make it 6-0. Haight would single to drive in Higgins, followed by a Perez double to drive in Haight and an Anaya double to drive in Perez to give UMC a quick 9-0 advantage.

Sioux Falls would get five back in the bottom of the fifth led by a Minnick two-run home run and a Durkin double to drive in Peterson to cut the deficit to 9-5.

The Cougars would add more five more runs in the third to take the 10-9 advantage led by a Brent Jarvis two-run home run and a Durkin double to drive in Peterson and Jordan Jeske.

The Golden Eagles would quickly take the lead back in the fourth as Perez' bat came through again as he laced a double to score Kinsella and Haggstrom and give UMC an 11-10 advantage.

Sioux Falls would add three in the fourth off relief pitcher Marcus Campbell (Jr., RHP, St. Croix Falls, Wis./Golf and Turf Management). Michael Downs would single to drive in Olthoff to make it 11-11. Petersn then
 singled to drive in Downs and Jeske to put the Cougars up 13-11, chasing Campbell from the game.

Wyatt Huso (R-Fr., Eagan, Minn./Agricultural Systems Management) would come on in relief of Campbell. Huso would walk Minnick to score Peterson to give Sioux Falls the 14-11 lead. With the bases still loaded,
Austin Richey would hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Durkin to make it 15-11. Huso would strike out Stanich to get UMC out of the inning.

UMC would get two runs back in the top of the fifth as Kinsella singled to drive in Higgins and Dalton Parks (Jr., OF, West Valley City, Utah/Sports and Rec Management) to cut the USF lead to 15-13.

After shutting down Sioux Falls in the fifth, the Golden Eagles would get three runs in the sixth. Mushitz would single to drive in Anaya. Jesse Jennings (Sr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice), who pinch hit in the inning, would come around to score on a wild pitch to knot things up 15-15. The Golden Eagles would chase relief pitcher Eric Brothers. With Dylan Gavin now on the mound, Higgins would double to drive in Parks to put UMC up 16-15.

Sioux Falls would chase Huso in the bottom of the sixth. Luke Thoma (Jr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn./Natural Resources) would come on in relief and would give up a Stanich single with bases loaded to put the Cougars up 17-16.

The Cougars would add four runs in the bottom of the eighth off Haggstrom to extend their lead to 21-16.
The Golden Eagles would try to rally but would come up with just one run in the top of the ninth as Haight singled to drive in Parks. However, UMC would be unable to overcome Sioux Falls.

Gavin would get the win for Sioux Falls, while Campbell would suffer the UMC loss.

The Golden Eagles were led in game two by Perez, who was 3-of-6 with four RBI's and two runs scored.
Haight was 3-of-6 with two runs scored and two RBI's, while Higgins was 3-of-5 with two runs scored and two RBI's.

Minnesota Crookston will host Winona State University in their 2015 home opening series Fri., April 3 and 4 at 1 and 3 p.m.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.

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The University of Minnesota Crookston is a NCAA Division II university located in the Red River Valley of Northwest Minnesota. UMC sponsors 11 intercollegiate athletic teams with membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate conference (NSIC) and the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA). The NSIC is a 16-team conference with schools situated in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota and Nebraska.