CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston picked up one of the biggest wins in program history as they used a team effort to upend Grand Valley State University 12-9 Sun., March 13 at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla.

The Golden Eagles upended the Lakers, who have been to 14 straight NCAA Division II Tournaments, which included six NCAA Division II World Series appearances. In addition, the Lakers finished third in the nation in 2013 and were runner-up and a World Series Final participant in 2004. Grand Valley State is receiving the second-most votes outside of the Top 25 in the NCBWA Division II poll.

The Golden Eagles improve to 4-6 with the win and are off to their best start in program history, besting last season's 3-7 start. Grand Valley State falls to 6-6-1 with Sunday's loss at Jack Russell Stadium, the former Spring Training home of the Philadelphia Phillies.

The win went to Nolan Wahlberg (Sr., RHP, Blaine, Minn.), who pitched seven innings and battled back after a tough second inning, in which UMC had three errors defensively and gave up four unearned runs. Wahlberg would finish the game giving up three earned runs on 11 hits with one walk and two strikeouts.

The Golden Eagles had several big hits, but none bigger than Zach Frazier's fourth inning grand slam over the left field fence. Frazier had come into the game struggling at the plate, hitting just .067. Frazier would belt the ball, clearing the bases and scoring himself, Thomas Kinsella (Sr., IF, North Branch, Minn.), Reed Hjelle (Fr., 1B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and Ethan Mushitz (So., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.).

UMC also got a big performance out of the bullpen. After giving up two runs, Trevor Buttermore (Sr., RHP, North St. Paul, Minn.) would get two big out, including a strikeout of Josh Griffith.

Zach Seipel (Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.), who came to UMC as a catcher and had pitched very little prior to college but was immediately turned into a closer due to his pitching ability. Seipel would come on in a big spot and give up just one hit as he picked up his first career save.

Grand Valley State would start the scoring in the bottom of the second. Griffith and Johnny Nate would reach with a pair of infield singles to lead off the inning. Joel Schipper would then reach on an error on the handling of a bunt by Wahlberg. The error would load up the bases. Tyler Ramoie would then reach on a Mushitz error, allowing Nate and Griffith to score. A Josh Smith sacrifice fly would score Schipper. Keith Browning would then single to left center to score Ramoie.

Wahlberg would be able to get out of any further damage.

The game would stay at 4-0 until UMC would come up with a big fourth inning. Ryan Haggstrom (Sr., 1B/RHP, Apple Valley, Minn.) led off the inning with a single to center field. Mushitz would then come through with a single of his own to move Haggstrom to third. After a Hjelle walk, Kinsella would be hit by a pitch, to score Haggstrom.

That is when Frazier would come through with his big hit, belting it over the left field wall to plate Kinsella, Hjelle and Mushitz.

UMC would extend their lead in the fifth and chase starter Sawyer Chambers from the game. With two outs, Kenny Perez (Sr., DH/1B, Orlando, Fla.) would motor to a triple. Mushitz then came through with a single to score Perez and make it 6-4. With M Ashcraft on the mound, Hjelle would come through with a double to center field to plate Mushitz. Kinsella would continue the rally as he singled to left to score Hjelle and make it 7-4. Colton Haight (Sr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn.) would be hit by a pitch with the bases loaded as Kinsella crossed home for the eighth run of the game.

Grand Valley State would get one run back in the bottom of the fifth as Griffith hit a solo home run to left to cut the lead to 8-5.

UMC would extend their lead to 9-5 as Dalton Parks (Sr., OF, West Valley City, Utah) singled to left to score Colt Trebesch (Sr., IF/RHP, Glencoe, Minn.), who was hit by a pitch three times in the game.

The Golden Eagles could have extended the lead further but left three runners stranded.

Grand Valley State would get two runs back in the seventh. Griffith would hit a sacrifice fly to score Matt Williams. Schipper singled later in the inning to score Nate.

The Golden Eagles would pad their lead with two runs in the top of the eighth. Hjelle would cross the plate on a passed ball. Shortly after, Kinsella would score on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 12-7.

Grand Valley State would threaten in the bottom of the eight as Buttermore came on. After getting an out. Smith would hit a solo home run to cut the deficit to 12-8. Williams then doubled to drive in Browning to cut the lead to 12-9. Buttermore would come through and get Jason Ribecky to fly out and Griffith to strike out swinging as UMC held on to the 12-9 lead.

In the bottom of the ninth, Seipel would come on and give up just one hit to Schipper as he retired the rest of the line-up and picked up his first career save.
UMC had 15 hits on the day and improved their team batting average to .297 on the season. The Golden Eagles were led by Frazier, who was 2-of-3 with four RBI's and one run scored. Mushitz was 3-of-6 with two runs scored and one RBI. Hjelle was 3-of-5 with three runs scored and one RBI, while Perez was 2-of-6 with one run scored, as was Haggstrom.

Grand Valley State was led by Griffith, who was 2-of-4 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Browning and Williams were both 3-of-5 with one RBI and one run scored.

The Golden Eagles will continue their play at the Clearwater Invitational as they take on Rockhurst University at 9 a.m. C.T. at Jack Russell Stadium.