CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball program will trek to Aberdeen, S.D. to face Northern State University Thurs., April 27 at 1 and 3:30 p.m. at Fossum Field.

Minnesota Crookston enters the week with an 18-22 (12-16 NSIC) mark. The Golden Eagles are just two victories away from back-to-back 20 win seasons. Minnesota Crookston is currently in 10^th place but they are just one game back from eighth place. The final 10 games of the season will be important as they look to clinch a spot in the NSIC standings.

Northern State comes into the week with a 17-23 (10-18 NSIC) mark. The Wolves are currently in a tie for 12^th place in the conference standings.

Minnesota Crookston at Northern State
Thurs., April 27, 1/3:30 p.m., Fossum Field, Aberdeen, S.D.
Live Stats - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/
Live Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/northern/

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Around The Horn
R-Jr. C 7 Zach Frazier, .137 avg., 8 runs, 1 double, 2 triples, 14 RBI's
So. 1B 33 Reed Hjelle, .333 avg., 23 runs, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 20 RBI's
Jr. 2B 10 Jason Angelo, .183 avg., 6 runs, 1 double, 5 RBI's
or R-Jr. 2B 6 David Anaya, .211 avg., 7 runs, 2 doubles, 4 RBI's
Sr. 3B 26 David Olson, .244 avg., 5 runs, 2 doubles, 6 RBI's
Jr. SS 27 Ethan Mushitz, .254 avg., 18 runs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 HR's, 22 RBI's
Jr. LF 5 James Cullinane, .277 avg., 23 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 12 RBI's
R-Jr. CF 1 Anthony Stewart, .312 ag., 35 runs, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 4 HR's, 27 RBI's
Jr. RF 20 Mitchell Bornhauser, .218 avg., 13 runs, 5 doubles, 1 HR, 9 RBI's
or Jr. RF/DH 8 Scott Mortenson, .261 avg., 8 runs, 1 double, 6 RBI's
Sr. DH 11 Patrick Higgins, .231 avg., 6 runs, 5 RBI's
Top Starting Pitchers
Sr. RHP 34 Cody Pamperin, 1-5 3.31 ERA, 54.1 IP, 37 K's, 14 BB's
Fr. RHP 18 Justin Yutrzenka, 3-2 3.88 ERA, 48.2 IP, 28 K's, 13 BB's

Top Relief Pitchers
So. RHP 21 Zach Seipel, 0-4 2.93 ERA, 9 Saves, 30.2 IP, 41 K's, 17 BB's
Fr. RHP 35 Jayden Grover, 0-0 5.70 ERA, 23.2 IP, 21 K's, 6 BB's

Northern State
Projected Around The Horn
Jr. C 4 Patrick Leary, .132 ag., 10 runs, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 8 RBI's
Sr. 1B 9 Ben Allen, .319 avg., 16 runs, 5 doubles, 16 RBI's
or Jr. 1B 10 Chris Gonzales, .178 avg., 11 runs, 2 doubles, 4 RBI's
Sr. 2B 8 Easton Lopez, .321 avg., 9 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI's
or 2B/DH 39 Ben Carolin, .299 avg., 27 runs, 5 doubles, 15 RBI's
Jr. 3B 27 Seth Sullwold, .295 avg., 19 runs, 13 doubles, 1 triple, 1 HR, 18 RBI's
Sr. SS 16 Mikey Barreneche, .269 avg., 17 runs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI's
Jr. LF 12 Lucas Lorenz, .341 avg., 34 runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 11 HR's, 43 RBI's
Sr. CF 5 Tyler Gripentrog, .268 avg., 20 runs, 4 doubles, 3 HR's, 13 RBI's
R-Jr. RF 24 Jack Schmidt, .281 avg., 28 runs, 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 HR's, 29 RBI's
Sr. DH/C 18 Ashton Williamson, .240 avg., 6 runs, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 8 RBI's

Top Starting Pitchers
R-So. RHP 17 Luke Chevalier, 5-2 1.64 ERA, 55.0 IP, 58 K's, 18 BB's
Sr. RHP 20 Nick Hoffard, 4-4 4.41 ERA, 65.1 IP, 32 K's, 22 BB's

Top Relief Pitchers
R-Jr. LHP 23 Nate Zeise, 0-0 2.92 ERA, 12.1 IP, 2 K's, 5 BB's
Sr. RHP 19 Kris Johnson, 0-0 1.59 ERA, 11.1 IP, 2 saves, 2 K's, 4 BB's

The Golden Eagles return to action after more than a week off. Minnesota Crookston last played Wed., April 19 at home against St. Cloud State University before having a bye weekend. Minnesota Crookston is hitting .250 as a team on the 2017 season. The Golden Eagles look to Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who anchors the middle of the order with a .333 avg. with 23 runs scored and 20 RBI's. In addition, Minnesota Crookston has one of the most dangerous lead-off hitters in the conference in Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.).

Stewart is batting .312 on the season. He leads the team with 35 runs scored, 27 RBI's and four home runs on the year. He combines occasional power with great speed as he leads the team with 11 stolen bases.

Minnesota Crookston has had a strong season on the bump as they come in with a 4.82 ERA on the season. The staff is anchored on the back end by Zach Seipel (So., RHP, Eagan, Minn.), one of the nation's top closers. Seipel leads the NSIC with nine saves. He has posted a 2.93 ERA in 30.2 innings pitched on the season. In the starting rotation, senior Cody Pamperin (Sr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) has been strong with a 3.31 ERA in 54.1 innings pitched. In addition, freshman Justin Yutrzenka (RHP, Argyle, Minn.) has had an immediate impact with a 3-2 mark and 3.88 ERA in 48.2 innings pitched.

Northern State is coming off a series loss to Wayne State College (Neb.) last weekend. The Wolves lost 3-of-4 games to the Wildcats. Northern State has been strong at the plate this season with a .279 batting average. The Wolves look to Lucas Lorenz, who is batting .341 with a team-high 34 runs scored, 11 home runs and 43 RBI's. Lorenz has been aided by Ben Allen, who is batting .319 with 16 runs scored and 16 RBI's, and Jack Schmidt, who is batting .281 with 28 runs scored, five home runs and 29 RBI's.

The Wolves have a 5.22 ERA coming into the weekend. Northern State looks to Luke Chevalier, who is 5-2 with a 1.64 ERA in 55.0 innings pitched. Nick Hoffard has been their innings eater as he has appeared in 65.1 innings pitched with 11 starts this season. Hoffard is 4-4 with a 4.41 ERA. Out of the bullpen, Kris Johnson has two saves in 11.1 innings pitched with a 1.59 ERA.