CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team scored five runs in the bottom of the seventh as they came from behind to win 10-5 and earn a mid-week sweep with Northern State University. The Golden Eagles lost the first game 4-3 after being held to one hit in the game.

Minnesota Crookston has took the second game in their last three doubleheaders against Northern State and Upper Iowa University. The Golden Eagles moved to 19-24 (5-19 NSIC) with Wednesday's win. Minnesota Crookston is just one win away from reaching 20 wins in a third-consecutive season for the first time program history. Northern State moves to 14-16 (7-11 NSIC) with the split.

Game One
Northern State picked up two runs in the sixth inning as Jeffrey Disla scored on a wild pitch and Jack Schmidt singled in Hayden Hall as Northern State took a 4-2 lead.

Minnesota Crookston had opportunities in the bottom of the sixth as the Wolves had four defensive miscues in the field. However, the Golden Eagles picked up just one run when Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) scored on a throwing error at short stop to cut the deficit to 4-3. Minnesota Crookston would leave two runners stranded in the sixth and would be shut down by the pitching of Northern State ace Luke Chevalier as the Wolves took a 4-3 victory in the first game.

Aaron Hollcraft (Jr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) got the ball in the first game for Minnesota Crookston. The local product put forth one of his best outings of the season as he put the Golden Eagles in a position to win. Hollcraft allowed just one earned run on five hits in four innings of work with two strikeouts.

Parker Hanson (Jr., RHP, Hawley, Minn.) came on in relief in his second relief stint after coming back from injury. Hanson suffered the loss after giving up two runs on two hits in two innings on the bump. Louis Gerzin (Jr., RHP, Ely, Minn.) was effective on the bump as he shut down Northern State in one inning with two strikeouts.

Grant Farmer earned the win in relief for Northern State as he allowed no earned runs on no hits in 2.2 innings with three strikeouts. Chevalier got the save for the Wolves as he gave up no runs on no hits with two strikeouts out of the bullpen. Thomas Sertic started the game for Northern State and allowed two runs on one hits in three innings with four strikeouts and three walks.

The one hit for Minnesota Crookston went to Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.).

Northern State notched seven hits in the tilt. Jack Schmidt paced the Wolves by going 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Lucas Lorenz was 2-of-4, while Justin Barreneche was 2-of-4 with an RBI.

The Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Dakota Stilson singled to left field to drive in Schmidt.

Northern State extended their advantage to 2-0 in the top of the third when Barreneche singled to plate Stilson.

Minnesota Crookston responded with a strong bottom of the third frame. With two runners on, Stewart singled to right field to score Zach Frazier (R-Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.). James Cullinane (Sr., OF, San Francisco, Calif.) came in to score on a Ben Thoma (Fr., UT, Clearbrook, Minn.) fielder's choice. The Golden Eagles would strand two more runners, but they were able to knot the game at 2-2.

Northern State came through with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Disla came into score on a passed ball by Frazier. Schmidt delivered a single to left field to score Hall.

Minnesota Crookston looked to respond in the bottom of the sixth. With one out, Hjelle reached on an error at short stop. After securing out, the Wolves allowed Wyatt Peppel (R-So., DH, Greenbush, Minn.) to get on base on an error at third base. The Golden Eagles would score as Jonathan Lund (Jr., 3B, Tolna, N.D.) reached on a fielding error at short stop. A throwing error by the short stop brought in Hjelle for the run. The Golden Eagles would leave two runners stranded as the Golden Eagles trailed 4-3.

Chevalier was crucial for Northern State in relief as he retired four batters faced in the game.

Game Two
Minnesota Crookston fought back from a 6-5 deficit as they picked up a crucial double from Hjelle and sacrifices from Frazier and Mushitz to drive in runs in a vital five-run seventh inning.

Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) had an effective outing as a starter for the Golden Eagles. Cherry allowed four runs on 10 hits in five innings with three strikeouts and a walk.

Zach Seipel (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) got the win in 2.2 innings of work as he moved to 3-2 after shutting down the Wolves with no runs and no hits and seven strikeouts to the nine batters he faced.

Gabriel Cavasos (Sr., RHP, San Antonio, Texas) pitched in relief and gave up two runs on two hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings. Gerzin faced two batters.

Northern State used six pitchers over nine innings. Colton Landreth started for the Wolves and gave up three unearned runs on two hits. Andrew Nichols would pick up the loss after allowing four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts in 2.2 innings. Mike Wiesmann had the best outing for Northern State with no runs on no hits with two strikeouts in one frame.

Minnesota Crookston's bats broke out in the second game after being limited to one hit. The Golden Eagles scored 10 runs on nine hits. Hjelle led the way with 2-of-4 with three RBIs. Cullinane finished 2-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Lund finished 2-of-3 with one run, while Thoma went 1-of-4 with two RBIs.

Northern State tallied 13 runs. The Wolves looked to Hall, who was 2-of-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Stilson went 2-of-4 with two runs scored, while Schmidt was 2-of-5 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Wolves took the early 1-0 advantage when Tyler Hair put down a bunt single to drive in Hall.

Northern State extended the lead to 3-0 in the top of the third. Schmidt led off the frame with a solo shot to left center. A Hall sacrifice fly to right field to drive in Stilson.

Minnesota Crookston put up a crooked number in the bottom of the fourth with five runs as Landreth ran into control issues. With the bases juiced, Cullinane would be hit by a pitch by Tyler Jones to drive in Lund. Jones continued the control problems for Northern State as he walked Stewart to plate Thoma to cut the lead to 3-2. Mushitz came through with a crucial single to left field with the bases still loaded as he drove in Cullinane and Mitchell Bornhauser (Sr, OF, Northfield, Minn.). A Hjelle single plated Stewart to put the Golden Eagles ahead 5-2. Minnesota Crookston would leave three runners on the bases, but not without taking the lead.

Northern State cut the lead to 5-4 in the top of the sixth when Mikey Adams put down a bunt single to drive in Barreneche.

The Wolves tilted the scoreboard in their favor with two runs in the seventh. Ben Carolin hit a solo shot to lead off the frame. With the bases loaded, Hall reached on a fielder's choice and drove in Stilson as Northern State took a 6-5 advantage.

Minnesota Crookston delivered a crucial inning in the bottom of the seventh. With two men on, Frazier reached on a fielder's choice bunt. The Wolves chose to try to get Thoma at home but the toss by the pitcher went to the back stop as Thoma and Scott Mortenson (Sr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) scored to put the Golden Eagles up 7-6. With the bases loaded, Mushitz flew one to left field for the sacrifice fly to drive in Frazier. Hjelle put a stamp on the frame with a two-run double to score Stewart and Cullinane as Minnesota Crookston led 10-6.

Seipel struck out the side in the eighth and ninth to preserve the 10-6 victory for Minnesota Crookston.

The Golden Eagles close out a 16-game home stand with their final series at UMC Baseball Field. Minnesota Crookston hosts Southwest Minnesota State University Sat., April 28 at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sun., April 9 at 12 and 2 p.m. in Crookston, Minn.