CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team will play eight games in Florida March 6-12 for their Spring Break trip.

The Golden Eagles come into Florida with a 3-4 mark after trips to Wichita, Kan., and Waipahu, Hawai'i to open the 2018 season. Minnesota Crookston will look to improve upon that mark in Florida, but will have to face a challenging schedule in the Sunshine State including games against three NCAA Tournament participants and the defending National Champion. The Golden Eagles compete in a doubleheader as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Baseball Invitational in Auburndale, Fla. They have a single game in Tampa, Fla., before playing five games as part of the D9 Sunshine State Classic in Kissimmee, Fla.
 
Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters

R-Sr. C 7 Zach Frazier (6-4 210, RH, Grand Rapids, Minn.)
              .000 avg., 2 runs, 3 walks

Jr. 1B 33 Reed Hjelle (6-2 210, RH, East Grand Forks, Minn.)
              .367 avg., 3 runs, 4 doubles, 8 RBIs

R-Sr. 2B 6 David Anaya (5-11 170, RH, Tucson, Ariz.)
              .250 avg., 4 runs, 1 double, 3 RBIs

Jr. 3B 16 Jonathan Lund (6-2 205, RH, Tolna, N.D.)
              .346 avg., 2 runs, 2 doubles, 3 RBIs
              
Sr. SS 27 Ethan Mushitz (6-0 170, LH, East Grand Forks, Minn.)
              .417 avg., 3 runs, 1 triple, 4 RBIs

Sr. LF 5 James Cullinane (6-1 185, RH, San Francisco, Calif.)
              .391 avg., 5 runs, 3 doubles, 1 triple

R-Sr. CF 1 Anthony Stewart (5-10 155, LH, Oak Harbor, Wash.)
              .414 avg., 10 runs, 2 doubles, 4 RBIs

Sr. RF 20 Mitchell Bornhauser (5-11 190, RH, Northfield, Minn.)
              .214 avg., 2 runs, 1 RBI

Fr. DH/RF/2B 29 Ben Thoma (5-10 200, RH, Bagley, Minn.)
              .250 avg., 4 runs, 6 RBIs
 
Other Potential Starters

R-So. DH 12 Wyatt Peppel (6-0 240, RH, Greenbush, Minn.)
              .333 avg., 1 run, 1 HR, 3 RBIs

Sr. DH 10 Jason Angelo (5-10 165, RH, Manteca, Calif.)
              .200 avg.

R-So. 3B/DH 32 Hunter Baldwin (6-3 215, RH, St. Thomas, N.D.)
              .125 avg., 1 run

Top Starting Pitchers
Jr. RHP 23 Parker Hanson (6-1 185, Hawley, Minn.)
              0-1 4.91 ERA, 11.0 IP, 6 K'S

So. RHP 18 Justin Yutrzenka (5-10 190, Argyle, Minn.)
              1-0 6.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 6 K'S
 
Jr. LHP 24 Zach Rustad (5-10 190, Blaine, Minn.)
              1-1 7.00 ERA, 9.0 IP, 11 K'S

So. RHP 35 Jayden Grover (6-3 210, Cooperstown, N.D.)
              0-1 7.88 ERA, 8.0 IP, 5 K'S
 
Top Relief Pitchers
Jr. RHP 21 Zach Seipel (6-3 200, Eagan, Minn.)
              0-1 3.38 ERA, 5.1 IP, 1 Save, 10 K'S

Sr. RHP 14 Gabriel Cavasos (5-9 215, San Antonio, Texas)
              1-0 1.08 ERA, 8.1 IP, 10 K'S

Sr. RHP 11 Jacob Butcher (6-0 180, Palmer, Alaska)
              0-0 12.27 ERA, 3.2 IP, 5 K'S

Minnesota Crookston is hitting .300 as a team coming into their sojourn to Florida. The Golden Eagles have a .391 slugging percentage and a .391 on-base percentage. The Golden Eagles have looked to four-year starter Ethan Mushitz (Sr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) to guide the way so far. Mushitz is hitting .417 with three runs scored, one triple and four RBIs. Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., Oak Harbor, Wash.) has also been off to a great start after earning All-NSIC Second Team honors and ABCA/Rawlings Gold Glove accolades. Stewart is the lead-off hitter for the Golden Eagles and is batting .414 with 10 runs scored, two doubles and four RBIs. Senior James Cullinane (OF, San Francsico, Calif.) is hitting .391 with five runs scored, while Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) is batting .367 with three runs scored and eight RBIs.

The Golden Eagles have posted a 5.34 ERA on the mound thus far in 2018. Parker Hanson (Jr., RHP, Hawley, Minn.) has been the most effective starter with an 0-1 mark and a 4.91 ERA in 11.0 innings on the bump. Justin Yutrzenka (So., RHP, Argyle, Minn.) is 1-0 with a 6.00 ERA in 9.0 innings pitched. Minnesota Crookston has a strong bullpen guided by closer Zach Seipel (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.), who led the league with 23 saves in his first two seasons. Seipel is 0-1 ith a 3.38 ERA in 5.1 innings pitched with one save. Gabriel Cavasos (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) has put his best stuff out there in his first four appearances. Cavasos is 1-0 with a 1.08 ERA in 8.1 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .235 against Cavasos and .200 versus Seipel.

West Virginia Wesleyan
Tues., March 6 – 1:30/4 p.m. C.T.
Lake Myrtle Sports Complex, Auburndale, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Minnesota Crookston opens up their excursion to Florida against West Virginia Wesleyan College with a doubleheader March 6 at Lake Myrtle Sports Complex in Auburndale, Fla., at 1:30 and 4 p.m. C.T. The Bobcats compete in the Mountain East Conference in NCAA Division II. The school is located in Buckhannon, W.V.

West Virginia Wesleyan opens the season March 3. The Bobcats went 23-30 in 2017. West Virginia Wesleyan looks to Greg Smith, who hit .341 last season with 23 runs scored, six doubles and 16 RBIs. Eric Forbrick also had a strong season as a freshman, as he batted .335 with 32 runs scored, three home runs and 30 RBIs.

On the bump, the Bobcats return Hunter Rotarius, who was 4-3 with a 5.34 ERA in 57.1 innings pitched. In addition, Jake Bishop is back in the fray after going 4-6 with a 6.41 ERA in 5.31 innings on the mound last season. West Virginia Wesleyan also returns key reliever Chris Metrick, who was 6-0 with a 1.85 ERA in 23 appearances with eight saves last season.

Greensboro
Wed., March 7 – 10 a.m. C.T.
University of Tampa Baseball Field, Tampa, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
The Golden Eagles will then face Greensboro College Wed., March 7 at 10 a.m. C.T. at the University of Tampa Baseball Field in Tampa, Fla. The Pride compete in NCAA Division III in the USA South Athletic Conference and are located in Greensboro, N.C.

Greensboro currently owns a 4-3 mark on the season. The Pride went 23-20 during the 2017 season. Lincoln Hewett, who is hitting .412 with four runs scored and five RBIs on the season, paces Greensboro so far this season. Daniel Efird is batting .400 with five runs and one RBI.

On the mound, the Pride has looked to Will Hicks with a 2-0 mark and a 2.16 ERA in 16.2 innings pitched. In addition, Tyler Garam is 1-0 with a 2.53 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched.

Missouri-St. Louis
Thurs., March 8 – 5:30 p.m.
Osceola County Stadium, Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/d9vision/
Minnesota Crookston will play a familiar opponent in Florida Thurs., March 8 as they come against University of Missouri-St. Louis at 5:30 p.m. The Golden Eagles split with Missouri-St. Louis last season with a 6-5 win and a 6-4 loss in Clearwater, Fla. Thursday's game will be at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. The stadium is the former spring training home of the Houston Astros and the current home of the Florida Fire Frogs, a Single-A affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.

The Tritons posted a 16-30 record during the 2017 slate. They currently come into their Florida trip with a 2-1 mark on the current season. Jake Morsch, who is hitting .375 with three runs scored, has piloted Missouri-St. Louis in 2018. Brian Seymour comes in batting at a .364 clip with one run and one RBI, while Tom DeCero is hitting .333 with four runs, two home runs and four RBIs.

Missouri-St. Louis look to Kevin Smith on the hill, as he has a 0.00 ERA in a short appearance as a starter this season. Out of the bullpen, Alex Oltmann was strong in his first outing as he went five innings and posted a 1.80 ERA.

Seton Hill
Fri., March 9 – 1 p.m. C.T.
Osceola Heritage Park – Field 1 – Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/d9vision/
Minnesota Crookston will take on Seton Hill University Fri., March 9 at 1 p.m. C.T. at Osceola Heritage Park – Field 1 in Kissimmee, Fla. Seton Hill is a NCAA Division II school located in Greensburg, Pa. The Griffins compete in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).

Seton Hill comes into their Florida trip with a 3-0 mark. The Griffins went 36-20, claiming the PSAC Title on their way to a NCAA Tournament berth. Seton Hill has looked to Tom McCarthy, who is hitting .500 with two runs scored, one home run and three RBIs. Craig Lewis has also made an impact early on with a .364 batting average and three runs scored.

The pitching staff has posted a remarkable 0.78 ERA so far on the 2018 season. Patrick Monteverde and Perry DellaValle are both 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in six innings pitched.

Northwood
Sat., March 10 – 2:30 p.m. C.T.
Osceola County Stadium – Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/d9vision/

The Golden Eagles come up against Northwood University Sat., March 10 at 2:30 p.m. C.T. at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla. Northwood is a NCAA Division II affiliate out of Midland, Mich. The Timberwolves compete in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC).

Northwood has a 4-5 on the 2018 season. The Timberwolves went 46-13 last season on their way to the GLIAC Championship and a berth in the NCAA Midwest Regional Championship Game. David Vinsky, who is hitting .417 with eight runs, one home run and five RBIs, has guided Northwood. Travis Janes comes in with a .414 batting average with nine runs, one home run and four RBIs.

On the mound, the Timberwolves have looked to Tyler Jandron, who is 1-1 with a 13.83 ERA in 13.2 innings pitched. Ian Dimitrie is 2-0 with a 6.92 ERA in 13.0 innings on the bump, while Jake Gross is 0-2 with a 6.75 ERA in 12.0 innings pitched.

West Chester
Sun., March 11 – 1 p.m.
Osceola Heritage Park – Field 2, Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/d9vision/
Minnesota Crookston will take on defending NCAA Division II Champion West Chester University Sun., March 11 at 1 p.m. at Osceola Heritage Park – Field 2 in Kissimmee, Fla. West Chester is an affiliate of the PSAC. They posted a 44-11 mark in 2017 on their way to the National Championship. The Golden Rams come into Florida with a 2-2 mark.

West Chester has looked to Zach Sheranko, who is hitting .455 with four runs, one home run and six RBIs. Christian Bateman is also off to an impressive start with a .400 batting average with two runs scored.

The Golden Rams have been guided on the hill by the pitching of Zach Rice, who is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA in seven innings pitched. In addition, Mike Cipolla is 1-0 with a 1.50 ERA in six innings on the mound.

Pace
Mon., March 12 – 2 p.m. C.T.
Osceola Heritage Park – Field 1 – Kissimmee, Fla.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/
Video - https://portal.stretchinternet.com/d9vision/
The Golden Eagles conclude their Florida trip versus Pace University Mon., March 12 at 2 p.m. C.T. at Osceola Heritage Park – Field 1 in Kissimmee, Fla. Pace is a NCAA Division II affiliate in Pleasantville, N.Y. They compete in the Northeast-10 Conference.

Pace finished with a 29-19 record on the 2017 season. The Setters were led by Michael Gulino, who hit .345 with 41 runs scored, six home runs and 36 RBIs. Michael Salmonese has also been strong with a .310 batting average with 34 runs scored, five home runs and 28 RBIs.

Pace looks to senior Ryan Aquino on the mound. He went 7-4 with a 2.42 ERA in 81.2 innings pitched. The Setters also return senior Kyle Cashman, who was 4-4 with a 2.68 ERA in 57.0 innings on the mound.