ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team's magical season came to an end with two on and two out and the go-ahead runner at the plate as they fell 8-6 to Northern State University. The game was an elimination game of the NSIC Tournament played Thurs., March 12 at Dick Putz Field.

While bittersweet, the Golden Eagles had an amazing and improbable run that included their first trip to the NSIC Baseball Tournament since 2001. The run included the most wins in program history (25) and the most conference victories in program history (18). What UMC has been able to do in just year two of Head Coach Steve Gust was a major accomplishment after going 2-89 on the season.

UMC's 12 seniors (Ryan Haggstrom, Colton Haight, Colt Trebesch, Trevor Buttermore, Marcus Campbell, Jarad Nelson, Nolan Wahlberg, Timothy Scott, Jr., Dalton Parks, Kenny Perez, Thomas Kinsella and Luke Thoma) ended their careers where nobody would have ever predicted. At the NSIC Tournament with a chance to win at the end. They put their hearts, heads and every inch of their body and soul into the games and this season and did what nobody else thought they would. So while the season ended, it is just the beginning of a program on the rise.

UMC would give the start in game two of the day to Jarad Nelson (Sr., RHP, Karlstad, Minn.), who would go six innings and give up seven earned runs on nine hits with one strikeout. Nelson gave up just two big innings with three runs allowed in the third and the sixth.

The Golden Eagles were led by Reed Hjelle (Fr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who was 2-of-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Riley Thompson (So., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) would go 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored.

The win for Northern State would go to Colton Boucher, who would go 5.1 innings and give up five earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts.

The Wolves would jump out to a 1-0 lead as Ben Allen singled to right to drive in Jack Schmidt. Nelson would pitch out of any further damage for the Golden Eagles in the top of the first.

Nelson would run into trouble in the second as he hit first two batters by pitches. He would get two consecutive outs but would walk Schmidt to load the bases with two outs. Nelson would get a crucial out as Jason Angelo (So., 3B, Manteca, Calif.) scooped the ball up and got the force out at third.

The Golden Eagles would knot up the game 1-1 as Hjelle hit a solo home run, his seventh of the year.

Northern State would add three runs in the top of the third. Mikey Barreneche singled to plate Lucas Lorez. Kolin Kubitz then doubled to right center to drive in Barrenche. Easton Lopez would then single to drive in Kubitz to make it 4-1.
Perez would go yard over the center field fence for the 11^th time this season as the All-NSIC Second Team pick got the Golden Eagles within 4-2.

Strong pitching from Nelson would help keep the Golden Eagles in it despite being down 4-2.

Thompson would lead off the bottom of the fifth with a Texas leaguer into center field. Zach Frazier (R-So., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) would hit a sacrifice bunt to get Thompson over to second. Thompson would advance on a Colton Boucher wild pitch. Angelo would come through with a sacrifice fly to center to drive in Thompson. Colton Haight (Sr., C/OF, Rogers, Minn.) would keep the inning alive as he reached on an error. However, Boucher would strike out Haggstrom to keep the advantage at 4-3.

The Wolves would get three runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-3 advantage. Matt Stubbs would hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Lopez. Lorenz then hit a two-run shot to right center to drive in Schmidt. This came after a controversial double down the left field line by Schmidt that was contested by Coach Steve Gust but ruled in play.

The Golden Eagles with a fire under them would come through in their half of the sixth. Thompson would come through in the clutch with a single up the middle to drive in Hjelle. Agelo then followed suit with a bit single to left field to drive in Thompson and Mushitz and get UMC within on at 7-6 as UMC got to relief pitcher Dillon Lee.

Luke Thoma (Sr., RHP, Little Falls, Minn.) would come on in relief and get a rude welcome as Preston Brown hit a solo shot to make it 8-6. Thoma would pitch out of the inning.

The Golden Eagles would have runners at first and third with two outs in the seventh but Thomas Kinsella (Sr., 2B, North Branch, Minn.) would strike out looking.

 UMC would get an opportunity in the bottom of the eighth as pinch-hitter Patrick Higgins (Jr., OF, Eagan, Minn.) led off the inning as he beat out an infield single. However, UMC would be unable to get any runs out of it as Northern State would hold the 8-6 advantage.

Zach Seipel (Fr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) would come on to pitch in the ninth and retire Northern State in order.

Northern State would bring on Luke Chevalier to close it out for the Wolves. Chevalier would walk Haggstrom on four pitches to lead off the inning. Chevalier would strike out Perez. He would then get Hjelle to pop up. Mushitz would reach on a bobbled ball, to put runners on first and second with two out. Chevalier would get Kinsella to ground out to get the final out as Northern State would get the win.

UMC had several players end their careers in the top five of several categories with Haggstrom the all-time leader in hits, runs scored, RBI's, doubles, triples and total bases. Haight set the record for walks and hit batsmen. Perez set the mark for home runs. Wahlberg set the mark for wins, while Nelson was close behind. Buttermore set the record for strikeouts, innings pitched and games started. Kinsella was ranked in several categories, while Campbell Parks, Trebesch and Scott also had strong careers for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles graduate 12 big pieces of their line-up but have a lot to look forward to with several key players returning including All-NSIC Second Team pitcher Seipel, along with a host of others. The Golden Eagles also have a strong recruiting class coming in as they hope to make their way back to the NSIC Tournament.