MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – A two-run home run from Josh Wenzel in the first inning set the tone as Minnesota State University-Mankato picked up a 8-2 win over the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team Sat., Feb. 25 at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minn. The two NSIC schools played in a late-night single-nine non-conference game starting at 9:30 p.m. The Mavericks added a four-run fourth inning to help secure their victory over the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 1-2 on the season with the loss. Minnesota State opened up the season on Saturday. They are now 1-0 on the season.

Gabriel Cavasos (Jr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) got the start for the Golden Eagles on the mound. Cavasos would run into some struggles as he gave up five earned runs on seven hits in three innings with one strikeout.

Wenzel would start out the scoring in the bottom of the first with the two-run blast to drive in himself and Eric Peterson.

Minnesota State added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Wenzel would single through the left side to drive in Dylan Dresel. Luke Waldek would then single to left field to plate Hunter Harnisch to make it 4-0. Cavasos would pitch out of the inning and leave two runners stranded for the Mavericks.

Cavasos would mow through the lineup in the third inning but the first batter in the fourth inning would be his finale for the night as Harnisch hit a solo home-run to left field to make it 5-0.

Eric Newman (R-Fr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) would come on in relief for Minnesota Crookston. The Mavericks would add a run when Wenzel came through again with a single to drive in Peterson and make it 6-0. Tyler Berg would reach on an error by Ethan Mushitz (Jr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) at short stop to drive in Wenzel. Jack Mattson would chase Newman from the game with a single to drive in Jordan Hart and make it 8-0.

Owen Ellefson (Jr., RHP, Argyle, Minn.) would come on and get the final out of the fourth inning for Minnesota Crookston.

UMC would finally get on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth when Riley Thompson (Jr., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) came through with a triple to center field to drive in Scott Mortenson (Jr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.).

The Golden Eagles added another run in the top of the sixth as Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) crossed the plate on a Mushitz groundout.

Minnesota Crookston would be unable to get enough going in the final three innings as Minnesota State would hang on for the 8-2 win.

Cavasos would get the loss for Minnesota Crookston. UMC would get to see a lot of pitchers. Ellefson would pitch well as he went 1.1 innings and gave up no runs on one hit. Matthew Dallas (Sr., RHOm Boise, Idaho) came on and gave up no runs on one hit in one inning. 

Jayden Grover (Fr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) would have an outstanding first college outing as he struck out the side in his one inning. Zach Seipel (So., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) would bounce back from a tough outing the night before and allow no hits and no runs with two strikeouts.

The win for the Mavericks went to Brody Rodning, who pitched two innings and gave up no runs on no hits with four strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston had only three hits on the evening. Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) would go 1-of-3 for the night. Mortenson was 1-of-3 with one run scored, while Thompson was 1-of-3 with an RBI.

The Golden Eagles will return to action March 4 in a late-night doubleheader against Dickinson State University starting at 10 p.m. at U.S. Bank Stadium.