CLEARWATER, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team concluded the 2017 Extra Innings Youth Foundation Clearwater Invitational with a split Wed., March 15 against Mansfield University at Jack Russell Memorial Stadium in Clearwater, Fla.

Minnesota Crookston picks up the series win over Mansfield 2-1. They finish the Clearwater Invitational with a 3-3 mark and are 6-6 on the 2017 season. The Mounties sit at 8-7 with the split.

The Golden Eagles took game one 5-3 led by the arm of Jacob Butcher (R-Jr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska), who got the win after going six innings and giving up two earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts. Zach Seipel (So., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) would get his second save of the season after giving up two hits in one inning with two strikeouts.

In game two, the U of M Crookston would run into some struggles on the mound as Gabriel Cavasos (Jr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) gave up five earned runs on seven hits in four innings pitched.

In game one, Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) got the scoring started with a two RBI triple to drive in James Cullinane (Jr., OF, San Francisco, Calif.) and Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.), to give the Golden Eagles an early 2-0 lead.

The Mounties would threaten in the bottom of the second as Peter Pena led off the frame with a single and Ryan Paige walked to give Mansfield two runners with no outs. However, Butcher mowed down three in a row to keep the U of M Crookston in the driver's seat. Mansfield would get one run in the frame as Pena scored on a Dalton Lewis ground out.

The Golden Eagles would have a big inning in the top of the fourth as they plated three runs on five hits. Riley Thompson (Jr., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) got it started with a double to left field to drive in David Olson (Sr., C, Stillwater, Minn.). Patrick Amerson (Sr., IF, Eloy, Ariz.) would then come through with a single to right field to drive in his teammate at both U of M Crookston and Dakota Wesleyan University David Anaya (R-Jr., UT, Tuscon, Ariz.). Stewart would then deliver a single through the right side to plate Thompson to make it 5-1.

The Mounties would again threaten in the bottom of the fourth as they loaded the bases with three-consecutive singles. However, Butcher held his own under pressure and mowed down three in a row, including two strikeouts, as he preserved the 5-1 lead.

Mansfield would score one more in the bottom of the sixth as Pena scored on a Jerry Chavarria sacrifice fly to right field.

They would get a third run to cut the lead to 5-3 in the bottom of the seventh as Taylor Hillson stole home. That would be as close as the Mounties would get in game one as the U of M Crookston would take the first game as Seipel would be able to close the door in the ninth.

Cayden Barta (Sr., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) would go 0.1 innings and give up one earned run on one walk and one hit by pitch. Cody Pamperin (Sr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) would continue his great start to the year as he shut down the Mounties in 1.2 innings pitched with no hits and no runs with one strikeout.

Evan McAndrew would get the loss in game one, giving up five earned runs on nine hits with five strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston would be led by Stewart, who was 2-of-5 with one run scored and one RBI. Hjelle would go 1-of-4 with two RBI's, while Amerson was 2-of-3 with one RBI.

In game two, Mansfield would jump out to the early 1-0 advantage as Dio Infante came home on a single from Pena.

They would extend their lead to 2-0 in the top of the second when Hillson hit an infield single to drive in Scott Rockwell.

Mansfield would add two more in the top of the third off of Cavasos. With the bases loaded, Brady Mengel would double down the left field line to drive in Wes Custer and Paige.

The Golden Eagles would threaten in the bottom of the third as Wyatt Peppel (R-Fr., OF, Greenbush, Minn.) hit an infield single and Mitchell Bornhauser (Jr., OF, Northfield, Minn.) was hit by a pitch. However, the Mounties would get out of danger as they mowed three to keep the 4-0 lead.

Eric Newman (R-Fr., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) would come on in relief in the top of the fifth for Minnesota Crookston. He would struggle with control as he hit Paige with a pitch and walked Custer. He would quickly be pulled in favor of Jayden Grover (Fr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.). The Mounties would score two as Rockwell singled off of Grover to drive in Pena and Paige scorer on a fielding error by Cullinane in left field. Mengel would load the bases with a bunt single but Grover would pitch out of any further damage, including two strikeouts.

The Mounties would extend their lead to 7-0 as they got a run off of Wyatt Huso (R-Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.). Tanner Klein would score on a Custer fielder's choice.

Minnesota Crookston would get one run in the bottom of the sixth as Cullinane crossed the plate on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 7-1.

The Golden Eagles would cut the lead to 7-2 in the bottom of the seventh when Brandon Kresl (Sr., 1B, Crookston, Minn.) grounded out to short stop, driving in Bornhauser.

Zac Carrillo (Sr., RHP, Manteca, Calif.) would also pitch for Minnesota Crookston, going one inning and giving up no runs on no hits with a strikeout.

The win for the Mounties went to Tyler Guidos, who gave up one earned run on five hits with two strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Bornhauser, who was 1-of-2 with one run scored. Peppel would go 1-of-3, and Cullinane would go 1-of-4 with one run scored.

The Golden Eagles will open up Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) play Sat., March 18 as they open a four-game series with Winona State University at 1 p.m. in Winona, Minn.