Box Score CLEARWATER, Fla.  – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team battled back from down 7-1 to take down Rockhurst University Mon., Feb. 14 at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater, Fla. The Golden Eagles would take the win 12-8 led by a fourth inning grand slam from Ryan Haggstrom (Sr., 1B/RHP, Apple Valley, Minn.), who put together one of the best games of his career. Haggstrom would go 4-of-5 with one run scored and six RBI's. He would lead a UMC offense that had 17 hits on the day. The Golden Eagles would rally for nine unanswered runs in the game.

In addition to the hitting explosion, the Golden Eagles had an outstanding performance out of their bullpen as three pitchers combined to give up just one run on five hits with eight strikeouts. Luke Thoma (Sr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn.) would earn the win after inheriting a 7-1 deficit in the third inning. Thoma would shut down the Hawk bats as he would go 3.2 innings and give up one run, one walk and two hits.

The win continues UMC's best start in program history as they move to 5-6 on the year, while Rockhurst drops to 6-6.

UMC picked up the lead in the seventh inning on a Kenny Perez (Sr., DH, Orlando, Fla.) infield single to score Ethan Mushitz (So., IF, East Grand Forks, Minn.). After that Cody Pamperin (Jr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) and Zach Seipel (Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) came in to shut down Rockhurst. Pamperin went two innings and gave up just two hits with three strikeouts. While Seipel came in and went one inning with just one hit and four strikeouts.

The UMC pitchers would combine for nine strikeouts to just one walk.

In addition to Haggstrom, Mushitz would have a solid day going 2-of-3 with two RBI's, three runs scored, two walks and a home run. His former East Grand Forks High School teammate Reed Hjelle (1B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) went 3-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored and his third home run in 11 games this season.
The loss went for Rockhurst went to P.J. Seufert, who came on in relief and went 1.2 innings, giving up two runs on four hits.

Rockhurst would get on the board early as they would get to starter Jarad Nelson (Sr., RHP, Karlstad, Minn.). Joey Mancuso would drive in David Stober with a sacrifice fly to center to make it 1-0.

UMC answered when Haggstrom doubled down the left field line to drive in Jason Angelo (So., IF, Manteca, Calif.) to make 1-1. Angelo reached on a walk to lead off the inning.

The Hawks would add runs as hit a sacrifice fly to score Mitch Stickney. Stober then singled to left to drive in Jeremy Lufft.

Rockhurst would chase Nelson from the game in the top of the third. Seth Soto would double to left to drive in Brett Marr to make it 4-1. Stickney then hit a three-run home run to drive in himself, Soto and Henry Weiler to make it 7-1. Thoma would come on to finish off the inning, getting Chase Leavy to ground into a double play.

The Golden Eagles would get two back in the bottom of the third led by the pair of East Grand Forks Green Wave graduates. Mushitz would lead off the inning with a solo shot to cut the lead to 7-2.  Hjelle would follow suit with a solo home run to left to cut the lead to 7-3.

Rockhurst would add a run in the fourth when Stober scored on a Mancuso groundout.

UMC would come through in the fourth with two outs. With bases loaded, Haggstrom would come to the plate and drive one deep over the left field fence to score Mushitz, himself, Riley Thompson (So., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) and Colton Haight (Sr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn.). The shot would chase starter Jake Goessling from the game in favor of Seufert. Goessling pitched well overall for Rockhurst after coming back from an injury after not pitching in a game for a year.

UMC would knot up the game at 8-8 in the bottom of the sixth when Mushitz doubled to left to plate Angelo. Perez would give UMC the lead 9-8 as he singled to short to drive in Mushitz. The run would chase Seufert from the game.

UMC would add three in the bottom of the seventh. Zach Frazier (R-So., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) would come through with a double and would come home as Angelo picked him up with a clutch double of his own to make it 10-8.

Pinch-hitting for Haight, Patrick Higgins (Jr., OF, Eagan, Minn.) would double to left to drive in Angelo, keeping the string of doubles alive. Haggstrom would single to drive in Higgins to make it 12-8.

Pamperin and Seipel would shut down the Hawks the rest of the way as UMC held on for their second-straight win.

The Golden Eagles have improved their batting average to .314 on the season with 77 runs scored and 66 RBI's.

UMC will continue play in the Clearwater Invitational as they take on Saint Leo University at Thomas B. Southard Stadium in Saint Leo, Fla.