SIOUX FALLS, S.D.-  The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell 10-5 and 13-2 to Augustana College (S.D.) Wednesday evening at Karras Park Home of Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles led game one 4-3 in the fifth inning but six runs in the bottom of the fifth would propel Augustana to the win. In game two, Augustana put up six runs in the sixth in order to overcome UMC.

The Golden Eagles fall to 11-33 (5-23 NSIC) with the pair of losses, while Augustana improved to 24-15 (15-9 NSIC).

In game one, Trevor Buttermore (Jr., RHP, North St. Paul, Minn./Criminal Justice) would pitch well early, but Augustana would get to him in the fifth inning. Buttermore would go four innings, giving up six earned runs on nine hits.

UMC would get started in the first as Ryan Haggstrom (Jr.. 1B/RHP, Apple Valley, Minn./Accounting) hit a double to right center to drive home Ethan Mushitz (Fr., 2B/SS, East Grand Forks, Minn./Criminal Justice).

Augustana would add two runs in the first when Bryce Berg doubled to drive in Jacob James and Jack Goihl scored on a sacrifice fly.

UMC would take the 3-2 advantage in the second when Patrick Higgins (So., OF, Eagan, Minn./Criminal Justice) singled to drive in Thomas Kinsella (Jr., IF, North Branch, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) and Colton Haight (Jr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn./Sports and Rec Management).

Augustana would tie up the game 3-3 when Lucas Barry doubled in Patrick Fiala in the fourth.

UMC would be able to take the lead back at 4-3 in the fifth as Kenny Perez (Jr., DH/IF, Orlando, Fla./Health Science) singled to drive in Mushitz.

Up 4-3, UMC would run into struggles in the fifth, led by a Patrick O'Donnell grand slam as the Vikings would take a 10-4 lead after the Golden Eagles had held on to the advatange.

UMC would have two on and one out in the seventh. Perez would reach on a fielder's choice with Mushitz scoring. But unfortunately Augustana would get out of trouble as they won game one 10-5.

Buttermore suffered the loss, while Zach Reeg got the win out of the bullpen after giving up no runs in 0.1 innings pitched.


In game two, UMC would hold their own early as they were down just 5-2 going into the fifth inning.

Augustana started out the scoring in the first with a pair of home runs. Fiala hit a three-run bomb, followed by an Alex Fink solo shot to make it 4-0 in the first.

UMC would get one back in the third as Perez singled to drive in Haggstrom.

Augustana added their third home run of the game in the third with a solo shot from Goihl.

The Golden Eagles got one more in the fourth when Mushitz was walked, allowing Kinsella to score.

Augustana would get to UMC in the fifth and sixth as they chased starter Luke Thoma (Jr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn./Natural Resources). The Vikings were led by an O'Donnell two RBI single and a Berg bases-clearing triple as they took the 13-2 advantage, of which they would win by.

Thoma would suffer the loss, giving up nine runs on nine hits in five innings. The win went to reliever Dalton Allen, who went 2.1 innings, giving up no runs on two hits.

UMC was led in game two by Perez, who was 2-of-4 with one RBI.

The Golden Eagles will return to action as they face Northern State University April 25 and 26 in Aberdeen, S.D.

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 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.