CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a sweep over Minot State University Thurs., March 30 at Jim Karn Field in Crookston, Minn.

The Golden Eagles used seven runs in the first inning and a 3-for-3 game from Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) to pick up a 10-5 win in game one over the Beavers. In game two, Minnesota Crookston used five pitchers, who would give up just one run on five hits to help pick up a 2-1 win over Minot State in the second game.

The Golden Eagle bullpen would shut down Minot State, going 10.1 innings and giving up no runs on eight hits.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 11-11 (5-5 NSIC) with the victories. The Golden Eagles have now picked up 10 or more wins in three-consecutive seasons under Head Coach Steve Gust. The three-consecutive 10-win seasons come after previously winning just two games combined in 2013 and 2014. Minot State came into Thursday with a 6-2 conference mark as they were near the top of the conference standings. Minot State drops to 11-6 (6-4 NSIC) with the losses.

The U of M Crookston opened up the first game with a big first inning as the Golden Eagles plated seven runs on seven hits to get out to an early 7-0 lead. Hjelle would use a double to center field to drive in Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) to start the scoring. Riley Thompson (Jr., OF, Owatonna, Minn.) would extend the lead to 3-0 with a single to right field to drive in Hjelle and Ethan Mushitz (Jr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.).

Minnesota Crookston would make it 4-0 as Thompson crossed the plate on an error by Minot State catcher Paul Vogelsang on an errant throw to try to catch Mitchell Bornhauser (Jr., OF, Northfield, Minn.) stealing second. David Olson (Sr., C, Stillwater, Minn.) would then single up the middle to plate Bornhauser to push the lead to 5-0. With the bases loaded, Mushitz would be hit by a pitch to drive in Olson. The scoring would end in the frame as Jeremy Spinner (R-Jr., IF, Phoenix, Ariz.) scored on a Hjelle walk with bases loaded to make it 7-0.

Minot State would have a big second inning to cut the lead to 7-5. Justin Demary doubled to left center to plate Wyatt Schlosser. Sean Alp would then single to right field to drive in Demary. A Jordan Schulz sacrifice fly to center field would plate Kyle Williamson to cut the lead to 7-3. A Vogelsang double to left field would drive home Michael Borst and Alp and would chase starting pitcher Jacob Butcher (R-Jr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) from the game. Aaron Hollcraft (Fr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) would come on and get a strike out to get the U of M Crookston out of the inning.

Minnesota Crookston extended the lead to 9-5 in the bottom of the second. Thompson would come around to score on a David Anaya (R-Jr., UT, Tucson, Ariz.) sacrifice fly. Bornhauser would score on an Olson ground out.

Minot State would threaten in the top of the third as Borst singled to right field. Alp would come around to try to score on the play, but would be thrown out at catcher from Bornhauser from right field.

The Golden Eagles would add a run in the bottom of the sixth as Stewart singled to left center to drive in Bornhauser to push the lead to 10-5.

Butcher would get the win for the Golden Eagles after going 1.2 innings and giving up five earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts. Minnesota Crookston's relief pitchers would shut down Minot State, giving up no runs on seven hits. Hollcraft would give up no runs on three hits in 1.1 innings pitched. Owen Ellefson (Jr., RHP, Argyle, Minn.) would give up no runs on two hits in two innings pitched. Cody Pamperin (Sr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) would come on to give up no runs on two hits in one inning, while Zach Seipel (So., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) would give up no runs on no hits in one inning.

The loss would go to Minot State's Aaron Kern, who gave up seven earned runs on seven hits in 0.2 innings.

The Golden Eagles would have 12 hits on game one. Hjelle led the way going 3-of-3 with two RBI's and one run scored. Stewart would go 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Mushitz would finish the game 1-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Olson would go 1-of-3 with two RBI's and one runs scored.

The U of M Crookston used a strong pitching out in game two to help pick up the 2-1 victory. Jayden Grover (Fr., RHP, Copperstown, N.D.) would get the start and would have an effective outing. Grover would give up just on earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks.

The relief pitching would again have a strong showing as they combined to give up no runs on just one hit in game two. Zac Carrillo (Sr., RHP, Manteca, Calif.) would give up no runs on no hits with one strikeout in two innings. Matthew Dallas (Sr., RHP, Boise, Idaho) gave up no runs on no hits in one inning. Gabriel Cavasos (Jr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) picked up his first win of the season after giving up no runs on one hit in one inning. Seipel would close it out as he picked up the save with no runs on no hits in one inning.

Minot State would open the scoring in the game. Wyatt Schlosser would hit what would originally appear to be a home run, but would be ruled a ground-rule double, allowing Schulz to score in and score. After a walk to Trevaun Smith, Dallas would get Demary to ground into a fielder's choice to get out of the frame.

The Beavers would threaten in the top of the sixth as Carrillo hit three straight batters. He would get out of danger as he got Demary to line out to center field to stay within striking distance of Minot State.

Minnesota Crookston would knot up the game 1-1 as Hjelle singled to center field to drive in Stewart.

The Golden Eagles would get the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth as Hjelle came across on a Thompson fielder's choice with Dylan Roach on the bump.

Seipel would mow down Minot State in order to preserve the 2-1 win.

Brock Breshears would suffer the loss after going 7.1 innings and giving up one earned run on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Hjelle led the U of M Crookston in game two by going 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Thompson would go 2-of-4 with one RBI, while Stewart was 1-of-4 with one run scored.

The Golden Eagles win the season series with Minot State after splitting games with the Beavers at U.S. Bank Stadium to open the season and sweeping Minot State on Thursday.

Minnesota Crookston will return to action April 1 and 2 in Crookston, Minn., against Concordia University-St. Paul.