CROOKSTON, Minn.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell 7-6 and 6-0 to Wayne State College (Neb.). The Golden Eagles were unable to get much going in the 6-0 loss. In game two, UMC rode the arm of Nolan Wahlberg (Jr., RHP, Blaine, Minn./Criminal Justice) for the first 7.2 innings. Wahlberg would give up a lead in the eighth, but UMC would get the lead back 5-3. However four runs in the ninth off reliever Wyatt Huso (R-Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn./Agricultural Systems Management), would lift the Wildcats over UMC 7-6.

Luke Thoma (Jr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn./Natural Resources) got the game one start for UMC. Thoma would give up just two earned runs in the first four innings. The junior would finish the outing, giving up six runs, four of them earned, on 10 hits in a complete game.

Wayne State got the scoring going in the first as Curtis Bussard looked to be caught on a pickoff, but an error would allow him to score. Quinn McGill would then score on a groundout to move the Wildcat lead to 2-0.

The Wildcats added a run in the fifth on Kevin Andersen's solo shot over the left field fence.

Wayne State would add two runs in the sixth of game one. John Roberts doubled to left center to drive in Michael Herman. Tanner Simons then doubled through the left side to score Roberts.

The Wildcats added one more run in the seventh to take the 6-0 win.

UMC's bats couldn't get going due to the strong pitching of NSIC Preseason Pitcher of the Year Eric Browning, who pitched a complete game three-hit shutout.

The Golden Eagles were led by Riley Thompson (Fr., OF, Owatonna, Minn./Criminal Justice), who was 2-of-3.

In game two, Wahlberg would put together a solid outing as he was looking for his fifth win. The junior would pitch well going into the eigth when he would load up the bases. Wahlberg would go 7.2 innings and give up three earned runs on nine hits, giving UMC a chance in the game.

Wayne State started the scoring in the second as Simons singled to drive in Roberts.

UMC would have a big second inning to take the 3-1 lead. Zach Frazier (R-Fr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn./Natural Resources) would come through with a double to drive in Ethan Mushitz (Fr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice). Thompson would then score on an error and Frazier would score on a wild pitch.

Wayne State added a run in the sixth as Albert Johnson doubled to drive in Roberts.

The Wildcats would tie up the game on a wild pitch from Alan Frank (Sr., LHP, St. Michael, Minn./Applied Studies), who came on to relieve Wahlberg.

The Golden Eagles would bounce back in the eighth after the Wildcats knotted up the score. After Ryan Haggstrom (Jr., 1B/RHP, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting) led off the inning with a triple, Kenny Perez (Jr.,DH/1B, Orlando, Fla./Health Science) would double to left field to drive in Haggstrom. Mushitz would then single and pinch-runner David Anaya (So., 2B/SS, Tucson, Ariz./Health Science) would score on an error.

Huso would come on for the attempted save for UMC but ran into struggles in the top of the ninth. Herman would reach on an error, allowing Nathan Ackerman and Chris May to score to tie up the game. A Johnson sacrifice fly would plate Herman. Simons singled to drive in McGill to push the Wayne State lead to 7-5.

UMC would rally in the ninth. Jesse Jennings (Sr., OF, Robbinsdale, Minn./Criminal Justice) would come through with a pinch-hit single to drive in Colton Haight (Jr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn./Sports and Rec Management). With Haggstrom on second and Jennings on first, Conner Keating would strike out Mushitz to earn the save and keep UMC at bay.

Huso would get the loss for UMC, going one inning and giving up four runs, two of them earned, on one hit.

Kyle Kennebeck got the win for Wayne State, going three innings and giving up two runs, one of them earned, on three hits.

UMC's bats were led in game two by Haggstrom, who was 3-of-5 with one run scored. Mushitz went 2-of-3 with one run scored.

The Golden Eagles will finish their series with Wayne State Sun., April 12 at 1 and 3 p.m. at UMC Baseball Field.

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.