WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team battled until the last pitch in both games of a doubleheader but came up short 4-3, 6-3 against Hawai'i Pacific University at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, Hawai'i.

The Golden Eagles scored two runs in the ninth inning of game one and had a runner at second but the Sharks ultimately pitched out of danger. In game two, Minnesota Crookston was within 4-3 going into the sixth inning but Hawai'i Pacific scored two crucial runs in the bottom of the sixth to come away with the 6-3 victory.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-3 on the season, while Hawai'i Pacific moves to 3-0. The Golden Eagles will look to end the series on a good note as they take on the Sharks in the finale Sun., Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. C.T.

Jayden Grover (So., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) got the ball in game one for Minnesota Crookston. The sophomore put the Golden Eagles in position to win as he went five innings, allowing four runs on six hits. Grover tallied two strikeouts and had just one walk. Grover picked up the loss despite a strong performance.
Gabriel Cavasos (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) took the mound in relief and went three innings, shutting out the Sharks in his time on the bump. Cavasos gave up just three hits and picked up three strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston looked to Ethan Mushitz (Sr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) at the plate, as he went 2-of-3 with one RBI. Jonathan Lund (Jr., 3B, Tolna, N.D.) was 2-of-4 with one run scored, while Wyatt Peppel (R-So., DH, Greenbush, Minn.) was 1-of-4 with one RBI.

Hawai'i Pacific was led by Christian Kapeliela, who went 2-of-4 with two RBIs. Tanner Tokunaga finished 2-of-4 with two runs scored, while Jordan Mopas was 2-of-3 with one RBI and one run scored.

The win for the Sharks went to Joshua Savea in relief. He went 3.2 innings, giving up no runs on two hits with six strikeouts. Jordan Gesling picked up his first save of the year, giving up two runs on two hits in one inning.

The Sharks got on the scoreboard first when Kapeliela singled to center field to plate Tokunaga.

Hawai'i Pacific added to their lead in the bottom of the third when Wyatt Hoppie grounded out to plate Tokunaga. Kapeliela then again came through, as he singled to right field to bring in Ryan Torres-Torioka to make it 3-0.

Minnesota Crookston got things going in the top of the fourth win a Lund two-out double. Following, a Mitchell Bornhauser (Sr., OF, Northfield, Minn.) walk, Peppel would single to right field to bring home Lund. The Sharks got out of any further threat with a strikeout.

A leadoff home run in the bottom of the fourth by Mopas moved the lead to 4-1 for the Sharks.

The Golden Eagles left bases loaded in the fifth as Saves came on and got two crucial outs to hold the 4-1 advantage for Hawai'i Pacific.

Neither team would put together anything until the top of the ninth when Minnesota Crookston looked to make a comeback. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases as David Anaya (R-Sr., IF, Tucson, Ariz.) singled, following by back-to-back hit by pitches dealt to Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) and James Cullinane (Sr., OF, San Francisco, Calif.). Mushitz came through with a sacrifice fly to left field to bring home Anaya. With two outs, Ben Thoma (Fr., C/OF, Clearbrook, Minn.) singled to right field to plate Stewart. Gesling would get an important out from Lund to close out the game as a win for the Sharks.

The lefty Zach Rustad (Jr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.) got the ball in game two as he made his debut for Minnesota Crookston. Rustad again put the Golden Eagles in good position with his pitching, as he gave up four runs on seven hits in four innings. He picked up six strikeouts for Minnesota Crookston. Rustad lost the game despite an overall strong performance.

Jacob Butcher (Sr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) also pitched, going one inning with two earned runs on three hits. Louis Gerzin (Jr., RHP, Ely, Minn.) had a shutdown inning on the mound with one strikeout.

The win for the Sharks went to Joshua Muneno in relief. He went three innings, giving up two earned runs on one hit with three strikeouts. Evan-Thomas May earned the save after shutting down the Golden Eagles in the seventh.
The Golden Eagles got something going in the first as Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) singled to left field to drive in Stewart. Thoma looked to extend the lead with a base-knock to left field, but Mushitz was caught at the plate, keeping the game at 1-0 in favor of Minnesota Crookston.

Hawai'i Pacific knotted the game up 1-1 when Matthew Tsutomi singled to bring in Mopas.

The Golden Eagles took the lead back in the top of the third as Thoma reached on an error, allowing Mushitz to come into the score to make it 2-1.

The Sharks came right back in their half of the third. Hoppie started the scoring with a single through the right side to plate Tokunaga. Kapeliela continued the inning with a single to bring in Torres-Torioka as Hawai'i Pacific took the 3-2 advantage.

The Sharks moved their lead to 4-2 in the fourth when Mitchell Burmann doubled in Froy Smith.

Minnesota Crookston put together a big threat in the top of the fifth. Stewart earned a leadoff walk to open the frame. With two outs, Hjelle doubled to left center to bring Stewart home to cut the lead to 4-3. Thoma then hit an infield single to move Hjelle to third. A walk was offered to Lund to load up the bases with two out. Unfortunately, Zach Frazier (R-Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) struck out swinging keeping the score at 4-3 in favor of the Sharks.

Hawai'i Pacific padded their lead in the bottom of the sixth as Tokunaga singled to bring in Smith. A Torres-Torioka sacrifice fly brought in Marc Sauceda to move the lead to 6-3.

The Golden Eagles would only get one base runner in the top of the seventh as the Sharks would hang on for the win.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up their series against Hawai'i Pacific Sun., Feb. 11 at 4 p.m. C.T. at Hans L'Orange Park in Waipahu, Hawai'i.