WARRENSBURG, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team dropped a pair of non-conference games against No. 20 University of Central Missouri Thurs., Feb. 14 at Crane Stadium/Tompkins Field in Warrensburg, Mo. The Golden Eagles fell 19-2 in game one to the Mules, and 12-2 to Central Missouri in the second game.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 0-3 with Thursday's losses. Central Missouri improves to 5-4 with the victories as they earned the sweep of the three-game series. The Mules were an NCAA Central Regional Tournament participant in 2018.

GAME ONE
The Golden Eagles trailed just 1-0 going into the third inning. Central Missouri made a big dent in the lead with five runs in the third and seven runs in the fourth frame.
Jayden Grover (Jr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) got the ball in the first game of the series. Grover gave up just one run on one hit in the first two frames. Grover would suffer the game one loss after allowing five earned runs on five hits in 2.2 innings with four walks allowed.

Nate Albrecht (Sr., LHP, Wahpeton, N.D.) came on in relief and allowed five runs on five hits in one inning of work. Tyler Hegg (Fr., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) allowed three earned runs on four hits in one stanza, while Garrett Hohn (Jr., RHP, Wausau, Wis.) allowed three runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Ben Kelsch earned the win for Central Missouri after pitching five innings of shutout baseball with five strikeouts and two hits allowed. Eric Lindsay allowed an unearned run in one innings of relief, while Zach Todd allowed an unearned run in one inning of work. The Central Missouri pitchers struck out 11 batters.

Minnesota Crookston picked up two runs on three hits. Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., UT, Thunder Bay, Ontario) led the way with one run on 1-of-4 from the plate. Brock Reller (So., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) went 1-of-3. Ben Thoma (So., C/SS, Clearbrook, Minn.) finished 1-of-2 for the day, while Hunter Baldwin (R-Jr., 3B/1B, St. Thomas, N.D.) scored a run.

Harrison Schnurbusch went 3-of-4 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Michael Sinks finished 2-of-2 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Alex Madera finished 2-of-5 with two RBIs, while Mason Janvrin finished 1-of-3 with three runs scored.

The Mules scored five runs in the third inning guided by a Schnurbusch two-run home run to drive in himself and Sinks. Central Missouri added seven runs in the fourth frame led by a two RBI triple by Sinks.

Central Missouri added three runs in the fifth led by a Gaven Strobel RBI triple, and a solo shot by Patrick Connor.

Minnesota Crookston cut the deficit to 16-1 in the sixth inning as Jorgenson scored on a throwing error by the catcher.

The Mules moved their lead to 19-1 following an Eli Wells solo shot, and a John Prudhom two-run home run.

The Golden Eagles sliced the lead down to 19-2 in the top of the seventh when Travis Conoryea (R-So., OF/C, Inver Grove Heights, Minn.) reached on a fielding error, allowing Baldwin to come in to score.

GAME TWO
Minnesota Crookston looked to rebound after the game one loss. The Mules would ultimately come away with a 12-2 win over the Golden Eagles paced by four runs in the fourth, and three runs in the fifth frame.

Matt Nelson (Fr., Afton, Minn.) earned his first career start and suffered the loss after allowing three runs on five hits with one strikeout in 2.2 innings of work.

Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) came on in relief and allowed seven runs on eight hits in 2.1 innings on the mound. Dalton Grose (R-So., LHP, Waterville, Minn.) went 0.1 innings and gave up one run on three hits. Louis Gerzin (Sr., RHP, Ely, Minn.) had a strong outing allowing just one run on no hits with two strikeouts and two walks in 1.1 innings on the bump.

Mason Green earned the victory for the Mules after allowing just one run on no hits with eight strikeouts and two walks in six innings of work. Max Abramovich came on from the bullpen, and allowed one run on one hit in one inning.

The Golden Eagles were led by Scott Finberg (Jr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.). He picked up the only hit of the game for Minnesota Crookston and went 1-of-3 with two RBIs and one run scored. Clarke Peterson (R-Jr., C, East Grand Forks, Minn.) scored one run for the Golden Eagles.

Central Missouri was guided by Janvrin, who was 5-of-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Erik Webb went 2-of-3 with two RBIs and three runs scored. Sinks finished 3-of-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

The Mules broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second inning when Janvrin singled to left center to score Micah Evans.

Central Missouri pushed their lead out to 3-0 in the bottom of the third guided by back-to-back home runs by Webb and Sinks.

The Mules added four runs in the bottom of the fourth guided by RBI singles from Sinks and C Taylor to push their lead to 7-0.

Central Missouri scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth paced by RBI doubles by Webb and Sinks to extend the advantage to 10-0.

Minnesota Crookston got on the board in the top of the seventh paced by Finberg's two run home run to plate himself and Peterson. Finberg's home run is his first as a Golden Eagle after transferring from Century College.

The Golden Eagles could not make up enough ground as they fell 12-2 to the Mules.

Minnesota Crookston returns to action as they take on Dakota Wesleyan University in a three-game series in Joplin, Mo., Feb. 22 and 23.