CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a pair of victories to earn the series sweep of Bemidji State University Sun., April 15 at UMC Baseball Field in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles took the first game 6-2 and came back with a walk-off single from Mitchell Bornhauser (Sr., OF, Northfield, Minn.) in the bottom of the seventh to leave the field with the sweep after the 6-5 victory.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 16-19 with the wins on Sunday. The Golden Eagles improve to 4-0 in home games as the weekend's series was the first at home for the squad. The games were non-conference tilts since they were originally scheduled for Wed., April 11. Mid-week NSIC games can only be moved to Tuesday or Thursday to count as conference games. Bemidji State drops to 4-22 on the 2018 slate.

Minnesota Crookston has had a strong non-conference season as they are 14-5 on the 2018 season. The Golden Eagles will look to use the wins as a spring board going into the rest of the NSIC season as they are 2-14 in conference games going into next week.

Game One
The Golden Eagles were led by a strong outing on the mound from Zach Rustad (Jr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.), who tossed five innings and gave up just two runs on two hits with nine strikeouts and five walks. Rustad improves to 2-4 on the season.

Minnesota Crookston was led at the plate by Jonathan Lund (Jr., 3B, Tolna, N.D.), who finished 2-of-2 with two RBIs. Scott Mortenson (Sr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored, while Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) went 1-of-3 with two runs scored.

The loss for Bemidji State went to Mitchell Haldi, who allowed two earned runs and six runs overall on four hits with two strikeouts and four walks. BSU had two errors on the game.

Bemidji State scattered three hits on the game. Blake Huntley went 1-of-4 for the game, while Bazil Zuehlke was 1-of-3 and Drake Wawro finished 1-of-2.

The Golden Eagles got the scoring started right out of the gate in the bottom of the first. Stewart led the game off with a double to right field, followed by a walk offered to Ben Thoma (Fr., UT, Clearbrook, Minn.). Bemidji State would load the bases with one out as Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was walked. With two outs, Lund walked with the bases loaded to plate Stewart and put Minnesota Crookston ahead 1-0.

Minnesota Crookston put together a big inning in the bottom of the second. James Cullinane (Sr., OF, San Francisco, Calif.) scored to start out the frame as he scored on an error at first base that also allowed Stewart to reach. Stewart came in to score as Ethan Mushitz (Sr., SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) reached on an error at second base. The Golden Eagles continued the scoring when Mortenson cleared the bases with a triple to bring Hjelle and Mushitz to the dish. Mortenson came in to score with a Lund single as Minnesota Crookston went ahead 6-0.

Bemidji State was able to cut into lead in the top of the fourth. Isaiah Grancorvitz scored as Zuehlke reached on an error at first base. Caleb Carlson came around to score on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 6-2.

The Beavers threatened in the top of the fifth with two outs as Huntley singled and Grancorvitz walked. Rustad was able to get out of danger as he struck out Carlson.

Gabriel Cavasos (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) came on to preserve the 6-2 in two innings as he gave up no runs on one hit.

Game Two
Minnesota Crookston came back in the seventh inning to win as Bornhauser used a pinch-hit single to drive in Thoma and give the Golden Eagles the 6-5 win. The Golden Eagles were down 5-4 after a Scott Litchy home run in the top of the seventh.

Mushitz guided Minnesota Crookston for the game as he went 3-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Hjelle finished 2-of-3, while Stewart was 1-of-3 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Thoma went 1-of-4 with one run scored.

Zach Seipel (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) picked up the win in relief as he allowed just one run on two hits in two innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

Jacob Butcher (R-Sr., RHP, Palmer, Alaska) got the start and gave up just one run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk in 3.2 innings.

Aaron Hollcraft (Jr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) faced one batter and got a key out. Esten Beneda (R-So., RHP, Lankin, N.D.) allowed three runs on three hits with one strikeout and a walk.

Jesse Palafox got the loss in relief as he gave up two runs on two hits in 0.1 innings. Jackson Back got the start and gave up four runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.

Bemidji State looked to Litchy at the plate, who was 2-of-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Zuehlke finished 2-of-3, while Noah Boser was 1-of-4 with two RBIs. Wawro went 1-of-2 with one run scored.

The Beavers broke the scoreless tie with a Litchy home run in the top of the third.

Minnesota Crookston was able to even up the score 1-1 as Frazier crossed the plate on a Stewart ground out.

The Golden Eagles opened up the frame with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fourth. Back was able to pitch out of trouble for the Beavers as the score stayed at 1-1.

Bemidji State broke through in the top of the fifth. Litchy singled to plate Wawro to put the Beavers in the 2-1 lead. Boser then tripled to drive in Litchy and Grancorvitz to move the advantage to 4-1.

Minnesota Crookston responded with a clutch inning in the bottom of the fifth. Cullinane got the Golden Eagles going with a one-out triple. He came in to score on a Stewart double as the lead was cut to 4-2. Mushitz then delivered his team-high sixth home run of the season to drive in himself and Stewart and knot the game up 4-4.

Bemidji State broke the tie with a Litchy solo shot in the top of the seventh to put the Beavers ahead 5-4.

Minnesota Crookston came through in a crucial spot in the bottom of the seventh as they had to score runs to either force extras or win as they trailed 5-4. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases as Stewart walked, Thoma singled and Hjelle was intentionally walked. A Palafox balk allowed Stewart to score to even the game up at 5-5. Bornhauser then delivered a walk-off single to plate Thoma for the game-winning run.

Minnesota Crookston is slated to return to action Wed., April 18 versus St. Cloud State University. The games are slated to be in St. Cloud, Minn., but discussions have been had to move the games to Crookston, Minn. No official decision has been made on the location of the games. Stay tuned for goldeneaglesports.com for more information concerning game changes.