WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team opened the 2018 season with a 9-2 loss at Hawai'I Pacific University Fri., Feb. 9 at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, Hawai'i. The Golden Eagles gave up three runs in the fourth and five runs in the sixth as they dropped their season opener.
Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-1 on the season, while Hawai'i Pacific starts the 2018 season with a 1-0 mark. The two teams will play a doubleheader Sat., Feb. 10 and will have the series finale Sun., Feb. 11.

Parker Hanson (Jr., RHP Hawley, Minn.) got the ball in game one for the Golden Eagles. Hanson gave up just one run on three hits in his first three innings. The junior ran into trouble in the fourth as he gave up three runs on three hits to the Sharks. Hanson falls to 0-1 on the season as he gave up four earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in four innings pitched.

Jacob Butcher (Sr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) came on in relief and gave up three earned runs on three hits in 1.1 innings. Butcher gave up just one hit in the fifth inning, but struggled as he gave up two singles and a hit by pitch before being pulled.

Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) came on in relief of Butcher and got Minnesota Crookston out of the sixth inning. Friday was his Golden Eagle debut after transferring from Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. Cherry allowed one earned run on two hits with one strikeout.

Wyatt Huso (R-Sr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) had a strong performance in relief as he went one inning and gave up no runs on two hits. Eric Newman (R-So., RHP, Buffalo, Minn.) also had a strong performance as he shut down the Sharks with just one hit and no runs in his inning on the bump.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Ethan Mushitz (Sr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who went 3-of-5 with one run scored. Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 2-of-5 with one RBI, while Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) was 2-of-5. David Anaya (R-Sr., IF, Tucson, Ariz.) went 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Tyler Van Stone got the win for Hawai'i Pacific after going five innings and allowing just one earned run on six hits with five strikeouts.

The Sharks were ignited by Kreston Woods, who went 3-of-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Ryan Torres-Torioka was 1-of-4 with three RBI's and a run scored, while Matthew Tsutomi finished 3-of-4 with two RBI's and one run scored. The trio make up the bottom of the order for Hawai'i Pacific as they gave fits for the Minnesota Crookston pitchers. In addition leadoff hitter Tanner Tokunaga was 3-of-5 with one run scored.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring in the top of the second when Anaya singled to left field to drive in Hunter Baldwin (R-So., 3B/1B, St. Thomas, N.D.). Stewart singled in the next at-bat and looked to drive in Jonathan Lund (Jr., 3B, Tolna, N.D.), but Lund would be thrown out at home on a strong throw from  Tokunaga.

The Sharks responded in the bottom of the second as Christian Kapeliela led off with a home run over the fence in left center.

Hawai'i Pacific moved their lead to 2-1 as Woods singled to center field to bring home Kapeliela. Tsutomi continued the inning for the Sharks with a two RBI single to plate Codi Santana and Kapeliela to move the advantage to 4-1.

Mushitz got Minnesota Crookston started in the top of the fifth with a leadoff triple. Fellow East Grand Forks-native Hjelle came through with a single to center field to drive in Mushitz to cut the lead to 4-2.

Minnesota Crookston ran into trouble in the sixth as Butcher hit the first batter and allowed two singles before being pulled in favor of Cherry. Santana would come across the plate on a passed ball by Zach Frazier (R-Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) The first batter Cherry would face Torres-Torioka hit a three-run home run to break the game open at 8-2. Hawai'i Pacific padded their lead as Wyatt Hoppie reached on a Lund error at third base, to allow Tokunaga to cross the plate.

Minnesota Crookston will look to get into the win column Sat., Feb. 10 as they take on Hawai'i Pacific in a doubleheader at 6 and 8:30 p.m. C.T. at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, Hawai'i.