CROOKSTON, Minn. – Scott Mortenson (Jr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) drove the ball on a line straight to center field on what would turn into a walk-off sacrifice fly to score David Olson (Sr., C/3B, Stillwater, Minn.). The sacrifice fly lifted the University of Minnesota Crookston to a Saturday sweep over University of Minnesota Duluth.

The Golden Eagles took the walk-off win in game two in the 11^th inning 8-7.Minnesota Crookston came back from a 6-5 deficit to force extra innings. The Bulldogs looked to have the game won in the top of the 10^th after a Tyler Wojciechowski solo home run made it 7-6. However, U of M Crookston four-year senior Patrick Higgins (Sr., OF, Eagan, Minn.) came up clutch on Senior Day in the bottom of the 10^th with a single to drive in Mortenson. It would be Mortenson who came through in the 11^th with his walk-off sacrifice fly to plate Olson, bringing his teammates out of the dugout as they rushed to congratulate the junior from East Grand Forks.

Minnesota Crookston took game one 7-4 as Jayden Grover (Fr., RHP, Cooperstown, Minn.) picked up the win and Zach Seipel (So., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) picked up his league-leading 10^th save of the year. Seipel would earn the win in game two, for his first win of the year.

The Golden Eagles improved to 20-24 (14-18 NSIC) with the Saturday sweep. Minnesota Crookston is right back in the thick of things for the NSIC Tournament, which takes the top eight teams in the league standings.

Minnesota Crookston is currently just one place back of qualifying as they are in ninth place. Minnesota Duluth dropped to 21-22 (16-15 NSIC) with the losses. The Bulldogs are now in sixth place in the league standings.

Game One
Jacob Butcher (R-Jr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) got the start on the bump in game one for Minnesota Crookston. Butcher put the Golden Eagles in position to win as he gave up three unearned runs on three hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings.

Grover would come on in relief in the third inning. He went 2.1 innings, giving up just one run on three hits with two strikeouts. The victory is the first in the young career of Grover.

Seipel picked up the save on the game as he went two innings, giving up no runs on two hits with two strikeouts in his 10^th save of the season. Seipel now has 21 saves in just two years.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring in the bottom of the first when Reed Hjelle (So., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) laced a double to left field to drive in Anthony Stewart (R-Jr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.). Hjelle would find his way home on a wild pitch to push the lead to 2-0.

The Bulldogs would cut the lead to 2-1 in the second as Wojciechowski reached on an error, allowing Tyler Midas to come home and cut the lead to 2-1.

The Golden Eagles came through in the bottom of the second as Stewart reached on a fielder's choice, driving in Olson. Stewart later stole second and got the pitcher to throw his way, allowing Mortenson to come in for the run. Patrick Amerson (Sr., IF, Eloy, Ariz.) continued the scoring in the frame with a single to left field to bring home Stewart to put Minnesota Crookston up 5-1.

The Bulldogs cut the lead to 5-3 in the third as Wojciechowski continued his big game with a single to right field to plate Marco Lucarelli and Brian Pierce.
Minnesota Duluth cut the advantage down to 5-4 in the fourth when Grant Farley singled to bring home Brett Milazzo.

Minnesota Crookston extended the advantage to 6-4 when Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Mitchell Bornhauser (Jr., OF, Northfield, Minn.). Zach Frazier (R-Jr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) rounded out the game one scoring as he came home on a wild pitch to push the lead to 7-4.

The Golden Eagles got to UMD's top pitcher coming into the game, Marcus Frederickson. He falls to 2-1 on the season as he gave up four earned runs on seven hits with six strikeouts in five innings pitched.

Minnesota Crookston looked to Stewart in game one, as he went 2-of-3 with two RBI's and two runs scored. Amerson finished the game 1-of-2 with one RBI, while Hjelle was 1-of-3 with one RBI and one runs scored.

Game Two
Parker Hanson (So., RHP, Hawley, Minn.) got the ball in game two for the Golden Eagles. Hanson gave up five earned runs on 11 hits in five innings pitched with two strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring when Hjelle hit a triple to right center to drive in Stewart. The Golden Eagles continued the scoring later in the inning as a Brandon Kresl (Sr., 1B/DH, Crookston, Minn.) ground out plated Hjelle to make it 2-0.

Minnesota Duluth cut the lead to 2-1 in the third when Wojciechowski hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Milazzo.

The Bulldogs evened up the slate 2-2 in the fifth with a Farley solo home run over the left center fence. Midas followed suit three batters later, as he hit a two-run rocket over the left field fence to drive in himself and Ben Danielson making it 4-2. Kevin Hoffman pushed the UMD lead to 5-2 as he scored on a Hanson wild pitch.

The Bulldogs extended their lead to 6-2 in the sixth as Danielson singled in Stewart.

Minnesota Crookston came back in the sixth and chased starter Rece Dietirch from the game when Ethan Mushitz (Jr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) doubled to left field to bring home Amerson and Stewart. The U of M Crookston brought the game within one run (6-5) in the next-at bat as Olson reached on an error, allowing Hjelle to come in for the run.

The Golden Eagles evened up the slate in the bottom of the seventh when Frazier came into score as Stewart grounded into a double play.

The Bulldogs put up a threat in the top of the ninth as they had the bases loaded when Seipel shut the door with a strikeout of Drew Stewart to keep the game at 6-6.

UMD put themselves in a strong position in the top of the 10^th as Wojciechowski powered one over the right field fence to make it 7-6.

Minnesota Crookston evened up the game 7-7 as Higgins came through in a clutch pinch-hit at-bat as he singled to drive in Mortenson. The Golden Eagles would have opportunities to take the lead but would strand two as the game moved to the 11^th inning.

The Bulldogs made it interesting in the top of the 11^th as UMD loaded the bases on a Vogt single, a Milazzo double and a Stewart walk. However, Seipel came through again, this time as he got Farley to ground out.

Olson opened up the bottom of the 11^th with a single through the left side as the senior set up the Golden Eagles for success in the frame. With one out, Frazier came through with a big single to right center, moving Olson to third. Frazier would move to second on the throw to third base.

That is when Mortenson stepped in and did exactly what he needed to, driving the ball to center field to allow one of U of M Crookston's nine seniors Olson to come in for the game-winning run, making it 8-7 Golden Eagles.

Seipel got the win after going three innings and giving up just one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts.

Matthew Dallas (Sr., RHP, Boise, Idaho) had a strong outing in relief on Senior Day. Dallas gave up just one hit and no runs in one inning. He had two strikeouts.

Aaron Hollcraft (So., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) retired his one-batter faced, while Gabriel Cavasos (Jr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) would give up one earned run on three hits in 1.2 innings.

Dietrich got the start for UMD and gave up four earned runs on five hits with five strikeouts. The loss went to Colton Sinning in relief. The Minnesota Duluth closer gave up one earned run on five hits in 1.2 innings. The most effective pitcher for the Bulldogs was Jalen Busker, who went three innings, allowing just one hit with two strikeouts.

The U of M Crookston bats were paced by Stewart, who was 2-of-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Amerson finished 1-of-3 with one run scored. Mushitz was 1-of-4 with two RBI's, Frazier was 2-of-4 with one run scored, while Mortenson was 2-of-2 with one RBI and one run scored.

The Golden Eagles honored their nine seniors following the game. The U of M Crookston seniors are the winningest class in school history as they have won 60 games. The group includes four-year seniors Higgins, Kresl, Cody Pamperin (Sr., RHP, Shakopee, Minn.) and Cayden Barta (Sr., RHP, Fargo, N.D.). Amerson is the lone three-year senior, while Olson, Dallas, Zac Carrillo (Sr., RHP, Manteca, Calif.) and Jeremy Spinner (Sr., IF, Phoenix, Ariz.) are all two-year players.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up their home slate April 30 at 12 and 2 p.m. against University of Minnesota Duluth at UMC Baseball Field.