ABERDEEN, S.D. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell short in a doubleheader against Northern State University Thurs., April 27 at Fossum Field in Aberdeen, S.D. The games started at 2 p.m. after several delays due to the snow that fell in the area earlier this week. Northern State came back from behind to win 4-3 in game one. The Wolves would then take game two 10-5 over the U of M Crookston.  

Minnesota Crookston falls to 18-24 (12-18 NSIC). The Golden Eagles are now tied for 11^th place with Northern State. The Wolves improved to 19-23 (12-18 NSIC) with the doubleheader sweep. The Golden Eagles head into the final eight games of the season still with a chance to make the NSIC Tournament. They are currently just one game behind Upper Iowa University and Winona State University, who are currently in eighth place battling for the final spot in the conference tournament.

Game One
Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring in the top of the first as Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) crossed the plate on a Scott Mortenson (Jr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) ground out.

Northern State responded in the bottom of the third when Seth Sullwold reached on an error at short stop, allowing Tyler Gripentrog to come across for the run.

Minnesota Crookston took the lead 2-1 in the top of the third when Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) hit an infield single to drive in Stewart.

The Golden Eagles added a run to their lead in the top of the fourth when David Olson (Sr., C/3B, Stillwater, Minn.) scored on a wild pitch.

Northern State responded in their half of the fourth with a two-run home run by Jack Schmidt to drive in himself and Sullwold, knotting the game up at 3-3.

The Wolves would add a run off of Dallas in the bottom of the fifth when Schmidt walked with the bases loaded to score Leary to push the lead to 4-3 for Northern State. Leary's run proved to be the game-winner as Northern State would hang on for the win.

Nick Hoffard would get the win after allowing just two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Kris Johnson earned the save in the game after retiring his one batter faced.

Matthew Dallas (Sr., RHP, Boise, Idaho) suffered the loss after giving up one earned run on one hit with three walks in 0.2 innings pitched.

Cody Pamperin (Sr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) would have a strong outing in the start. Pamperin would allow just two earned runs on five hits with one strikeout in four innings. Gabriel Cavasos (Jr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) was effective out of the bullpen, allowing no runs on no hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Minnesota Crookston was led on the game by Stewart, who was 2-of-3 with two runs scored. Mortenson went 1-of-3 with one RBI, as did Hjelle.

Game Two
The Golden Eagles jumped out to the 2-0 advantage in the top of the first. An Ethan Mushitz (Jr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) single to left field drove in both Hjelle and Patrick Amerson (Sr., IF, Eloy, Ariz.).
Minnesota Crookston pushed their advantage to 3-0 with Stewart's team-leading fifth home run of the season.

Northern State cut the lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the second. Ben Allen started out the scoring for the Wolves when he doubled to left field to plate Schmidt. An error by the pitcher later in the inning would allow Allen to score. The Wolves would tie up the game 3-3 later in the inning when Easton Lopez scored on a Ben Carolin ground out. Lucas Lorenz pushed the Northern State advantage to 5-3 on a single through the left side to plate Gripentrog and Leary.

Minnesota Crookston bounced back in the top of the fourth when Hjelle singled to right field to drive in Stewart, cutting the lead to 5-4.

Northern State would come back in their half of the fourth with a home run from Sullwold to drive in himself and Carolin. The home run extended the lead to 7-4.

The U of M Crookston cut the lead to 7-5 in the top of the sixth when Brandon Kresl (Sr., 1B/DH, Crookston, Minn.) doubled to right field to plate Hjelle.

However, the Wolves would respond in the bottom of the sixth. A Lorenz single down the left field line drove in Gripentrog and a Barreneche single through the left side plated Schmidt and Lorenz to extend the lead to 10-5.

Neither team would score in the final three innings as Northern State would hang on for the 10-5 win.

Jacob Butcher (R-Jr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) suffered the loss in the start for Minnesota Crookston. Butcher gave up four earned runs on seven hits in three innings on the mound. He falls to 5-3 on the year with the loss.

Justin Yutrzenka (Fr., RHP, Argyle, Minn.) pitched three innings of relief and struggled. Yutrzenka gave up five earned runs on six hits.

Jayden Grover (Fr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) also pitched in relief and had a strong inning on the bump. Grover gave up no runs on no hits in one inning. Cayden Barta (Sr., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) also had a strong performance on the mound, giving up no runs on one hit in one inning of work.

Thomas Sertic picked up the win in relief, giving up just one run on five hits in 2.1 innings. Rylan Shimer got the start for Northern State and gave up two earned runs on four hits in 2.1 innings. The Wolves also used Isaiah Greene, Kris Johnson and Luke Chevalier. Chevalier, the top starter for Northern State, shut down the Golden Eagles in the final 1.2 innings, giving up no runs on one hit.