TAMPA, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a comeback win in extra innings 18-11 over Greensboro College Wed., March 7 at the University of Tampa Baseball Field in Tampa, Fla.

 The Golden Eagles opened the game with a 7-0 lead through the first 1.5 innings. The Pride came back with five runs in the bottom of the third and six in the bottom of the fourth as they took an 11-8 advantage into the top of the eighth. Minnesota Crookston scored three runs in the eighth and ninth innings to force extra baseball Wednesday. The Golden Eagles came through big in the top of the 10^th as they plated seven runs to secure the 18-11 win.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 6-4 on the season with Wednesday's win. The Golden Eagles have now won five straight including opening their excursion in Florida with three victories. Greensboro's game Wednesday was an exhibition as their record stays at 5-5 on the season.

The victory was a total team effort as 22 of the 30 players who made the trip were a part of Wednesday's win.

Minnesota Crookston was led by their relief pitching as six pitchers combined to shut out the Pride in the final six frames. Esten Beneda (R-So., RHP, Lankin, N.D.) went 1.1 innings and gave up no runs and no hits with one strikeout. Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) went one inning and gave up no runs and no hits with one strikeout. Louis Gerzin (Jr., RHP, Ely, Minn.) notched one inning and gave up just one hit and no runs. Aaron Hollcraft (Jr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) logged a frame and gave up no runs and no hits with one strikeout. Zach Seipel (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) got the win for Minnesota Crookston and going one inning and striking out two of three batters faced. Jacob Butcher (R-Sr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) finished out the game, giving up no runs on no hits with one strikeout in one frame.

Zach Rustad (Jr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.) got the start and allowed five earned runs on six hits with three strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Gabriel Cavasos (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) allowed six earned runs on five hits with one strikeout.

The Minnesota Crookston hitters had a big day at the plate with 18 runs on 21 hits. The Golden Eagles had three home runs on the day. Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, MInn.) led the way as he went 4-of-6 with four RBIs and three runs scored with a home run. Zach Frazier (R-Sr., Grand Rapids, Minn.) built off a big day Tuesday as he went 3-of-5 with four RBIs and two runs scored, including a home run. Ethan Mushitz (Sr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was 2-of-7 with two RBIs and three runs scored with a home run. James Cullinane (Sr., OF, San Francsico, Calif.) finished 2-of-5 with one run and three RBIs, while Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) was 2-of-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Cole Cooper picked up the loss for Greensboro College after allowing five earned runs on three hits with two walks in 0.0 innings. Josh Evans got the start and struggled as he gave up seven earned runs on nine hits in three frames.

The Pride had 11 runs on 12 hits as they also had a strong day at the plate. Greensboro looked to Derek Jaar, who was 2-of-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Tyler Fuller was 2-of-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Jimmy Short finished 2-of-6 with two runs scored.

Minnesota Crookston had their foot on the gas from the onset of Wednesday's game as they scored four runs in the top of the first. Mushitz started off the scoring with a double to right field to drive in Scott Mortenson (Sr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.). Hjelle then added to the lead with a single to left field to plate Mushitz. Frazier continued the frame as he singled to left field to bring Hjelle around to score. Wyatt Peppel (R-So., DH, Greenbush, Minn.) then doubled up the middle to bring Cullinane in to move the lead to 4-0.

The Golden Eagles added one run in the second inning when Mushitz hit a ball off the scoreboard in right field for a solo shot to move the lead to 5-0.

Frazier followed suit in the third as he hit one over the left field fence with Cullinane on the base paths to extend the lead to 7-0.

The lead didn't stay comfortable for long though as Greensboro got to Rustad in the bottom of the third. Blake Dignan singled to right center to score Blake Carroll. Jaar then singled through the left side to bring around Short to cut the deficit to 7-2. With the bases juiced, Fuller would be walked to slice the lead to 7-3. Scotty McGuire completed the scoring in the frame for Greensboro as he doubled down the right field line to bring in Fuller and Jaar and cut the lead to 7-5.

Minnesota Crookston answered in the top of the fourth when Hjelle hit a solo home run over the left center fence to extend the advantage to 8-5.

However, Greensboro responded off of Cavasos in the fourth frame. Short crosses the plate on a Dignan RBI groundout. Jaar then doubled to left field to bring around Hunter Curtis to bring the Pride within one run at 8-7. Tyler Price then singled to left field to score Jaar and knot the score up 8-8. Greensboro took the three run lead 11-8 when Carroll tripled to left center to score McGuire, Price and Fuller.
After three scoreless innings, the Golden Eagles finally responded as Stewart scored on a double play from Hjelle to pull Minnesota Crookston within 11-9. Cullinane then hit an infield single to score Mushitz to bring the Golden Eagles within 11-10.

Stewart came through in a clutch spot for Minnesota Crookston in the top of the 10^th as he doubled to right field to plate Mitchell Bornhauser (Sr., OF, Northfield, Minn.) to tie the slate up 11-11.. Greensboro was unable to answer as Seipel struck out two of his three batters faced to force extra innings.

The Golden Eagles responded as they would score seven runs in the extra frame. Frazier brought in the game-winning run as he earned a walk with the bases loaded to score Hjelle. Bornhauser then singled through the left side to score Hunter Baldwin (R-So., 3B, St. Thomas, N.D.). Ben Thoma (Fr., UT, Clearbrook, Minn.) continued the onslaught when he singled to right field to knock in Cullinane. Stewart would then earn a walk with the bases loaded to score Frazier to extend the lead to 15-11. Thoma crossed the dish on a wild pitch to move the advantage to 16-11. Hjelle would hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring around Thoma to make it 17-11. Baldwin put the final touches on a big inning with a single through the left side to score Stewart.

Butcher would retire the Pride in the bottom of the 10^th as Minnesota Crookston won 18-11.

The Golden Eagles will look to continue their strong play in the Sunshine State as they take on University of Missouri-St. Louis at 5:30 p.m. C.T. at Osceola County Stadium in Kissimmee, Fla.