CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team concludes their 2018 home slate this weekend as they host Southwest Minnesota State University at UMC Baseball Field. The Golden Eagles are looking to send 11 seniors out on a winning note in the four-game series with the Mustangs. Minnesota Crookston will take on SMSU Sat., April 28 at 1 and 3 p.m. and Sun., April 29 at 12 and 2 p.m.

Senior Day will be Saturday with the seniors being honored during the two games. A banquet will be held for the senior class following Saturday's games. Minnesota Crookston will honor Anthony Stewart, Ethan Mushitz, Mitchell Bornhauser, Scott Mortenson, Zach Frazier, James Cullinane, Gabriel Cavasos, Jacob Butcher, Wyatt Huso, David Anaya, and Jason Angelo.

Minnesota Crookston has been in the friendly confines of their home ballpark for the last 12 games with four more to go in Crookston. The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 19-24 (5-19 NSIC) record. Minnesota Crookston has put up a 7-5 mark at home this season. The Golden Eagles could reach 20 wins for the third-consecutive season with a win this weekend. It would mark the first time in program history. Minnesota Crookston is also in reach of the all-time wins record with 10 games left on the season. The wins mark currently sits at 25 set during the 2016 campaign.

Southwest Minnesota State at Minnesota Crookston
Sat., April 27, 1/3 p.m.
Sun., April 28, 12/2 p.m.
Live Stats - http://www.sidearmstats.com/umcrookston/baseball/

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starting Line-up
R-Sr. CF 1 Anthony Stewart, .327 avg., 42 runs, 11 2B, 8 3B, 4 HR, 30 RBIs
Sr. SS 27 Ethan Mushitz, .281 avg., 29 runs, 7 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 24 RBIs
Jr. 1B 33 Reed Hjelle, .429 avg., 30 runs, 16 2B, 4 3B, 8 HR, 45 RBIs
Jr. 3B 16 Jonathan Lund, .293 avg., 15 runs, 2 2B, 2 HR, 21 RBIs
R-So. DH 12 Wyatt Peppel, .234 avg., 7 runs, 4 2B, 1 HR, 9 RBIs
or R-So. DH 32 Hunter Baldwin, .278 avg., 5 runs, 1 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBIs
Fr. 2B 29 Ben Thoma, .198 avg., 18 runs, 2 2B, 2 HR, 19 RBIs
Sr. RF 20 Mitchell Bornhauser, .203 avg., 12 runs, 1 2B, 6 RBIs
or Sr. RF 8 Scott Mortenson, .244 avg., 12 runs, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 7 RBIs
R-Sr. C 7 Zach Frazier, .181 avg., 17 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBIs
Sr. LF 5 James Cullinane, .247 avg., 19 runs, 8 2B, 3 3B, 6 RBIs

Top Pitchers
Jr. RHP 21 Zach Seipel, 3-2 2.84 ERA, 31.2 IP, 7 saves, 53 K, 16 BB
Jr. LHP 25 Aaron Hollcraft, 2-1 3.71 ERA, 17.0 IP, 12 K, 9 BB
Jr. RHP 37 Louis Gerzin, 0-0 1.88 ERA, 14.1 IP, 13 K, 11 BB
Jr. LHP 24 Zach Rustad, 2-5 5.24 ERA, 44.2 IP, 54 K, 27 BB
So. RHP 18 Justin Yutrzenka, 2-2 5.44 ERA, 43.0 IP, 41 K, 23 BB

Minnesota Crookston is looking to end the season on a strong note as they currently sit in 13^th place in the conference standings. The Golden Eagles are just behind their opponent this weekend, Southwest Minnesota State, in the conference standings.

The Golden Eagles are hitting .270 as a team entering Saturday. Minnesota Crookston has been guided by Reed Hjelle (Jr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who has been one of the top hitters in the NSIC this season. Hjelle is hitting .429 on the year with 30 runs scored, 16 doubles four triples eight home runs and 45 RBIs. He currently leads the NSIC in batting average for players who have over 100 at-bats. In addition, he is the league leader in hits, home runs and total bases.

Anthony Stewart (R-Sr., OF, Oak Harbor, Wash.) comes into his senior weekend hitting .327 with a league-best 42 runs scored. Stewart also is the NSIC leader in triples with eight. Jonathan Lund (Jr., 3B, Tolna, N.D.) comes into Saturday with a .293 batting average, while senior Ethan Mushitz (SS, East Grand Forks, Minn.) is hitting .281 with 29 runs, seven doubles, four triples, six home runs and 24 RBIs.

On the mound, the Golden Eagles are paced by one of the best closers in the nation in Zach Seipel (Jr., RHP, Eagan, Minn.) The fire-baller is 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched with 53 strikeouts and just 16 walks. Seipel has seven saves on the season.

Aaron Hollcraft (Jr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) comes in with a 2-1 mark and a 3.71 ERA in 17.0 innings pitched. Zach Rustad (Jr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.) enters Saturday with a 2-5 mark and a 5.24 ERA in 44.2 innings with 54 strikeouts and 27 walks.

Southwest Minnesota State 
Projected Starters
R-Fr. SS 6 Nathan Kuhn, .287 avg., 27 runs, 3 2B, 1 3B, 5 RBIs
So. RF 37 Ben Heichel, .322 avg., 23 runs, 13 2B, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
Sr. 1B 24 Shane Sellner, .356 avg. 16 runs, 9 2B, 1 HR, 20 RBIs
Fr. 3B 26 Jake Hendricks, .247 avg., 11 runs, 8 2B, 1 HR, 13 RBIs
Jr. 2B 12 Jayden Fleck, .314 avg., 23 runs, 7 2B, 6 HR, 28 RBIs
Jr. CF 20 Connor Johnson, .234 avg., 15 runs, 8 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 22 RBIs
So. C 17 Spencer Rudnik, .316 avg., 11 runs, 1 2B, 8 RBIs
or So. C 7 Derek Smith, .261 avg., 6 runs, 1 2B, 5 RBIs
So. DH 34 Brady Lanoue, .204 avg., 5 runs, 4 RBIs
or Fr. DH 11 Matt Bezdicek, .257 avg., 4 runs, 1 2B, 2 RBIs
So. LF 10 Tanner Strommen, .203 avg., 13 runs, 1 2B, 1 HR, 8 RBIs
or Sr. LF 14 Liam Lopez, .178 avg., 7 runs, 3 2B, 1 RBI

Top Pitchers
Sr. RHP 16 Josh Cook, 1-1 1.84 ERA, 14.2 IP, 14 K, 6 BB
Jr. RHP 35 Alex Jorgensen, 2-3 3.47 ERA, 23.1 IP, 1 save, 29 K, 17 BB
Fr. LHP 22 John Bezdicek, 2-3 3.64 ERA, 42.0 IP, 51 K, 24 BB
Jr. LHP 36 Cole Petersen, 1-2 4.03 ERA, 29.0 IP, 23 K, 16 BB
Jr. RHP 15 Justin Clark, 1-4 5.58 ERA, 40.1 IP, 43 K, 17 BB

Southwest Minnesota State is batting .277 on the 2018 season with 166 runs, 57 doubles, two triples, 15 home runs and 145 RBIs.

The Mustangs have looked to Shane Sellner who is batting .356 with 16 runs, nine doubles, one home run and 20 RBIs. Ben Heichel is batting .322 with 23 runs, 13 doubles, three home runs and 22 RBIs. Jayden Fleck comes in batting .314 with 23 runs, seven doubles, six home runs and 28 RBIs.

The pitching staff boasts a 5.62 ERA on the season. SMSU is guided by starter John Bezdickek, who is 2-3 with a 3.64 ERA in 42.0 innings pitched with 51 strikeouts and 24 walks. Cole Petersen is 1-2 with a 4.03 ERA in 29.0 innings logged. Out of the bullpen, the Mustangs rely on Alex Jorgensen with a 3.47 ERA in 23.1 innings pitched. Josh Cook is 1-1 with a 1.84 ERA in 14.2 innings out of the bullpen.