JOPLIN, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team belted four home runs as they crushed Dakota Wesleyan University 20-4 Sat., Feb. 23 in a non-conference tilt at Warren Turner Field in Joplin, Mo. The Golden Eagles had a big bounce back game both at the plate, and on the mound, as they earned their first win of 2019. Minnesota Crookston finished with 20 runs on 22 hits, while they allowed just five hits to the Tigers.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 1-3 with Saturday's win. Dakota Wesleyan, the former employer of Head Coach Steve Gust, starts 2019 with a 0-1 mark.

Reed Hjelle (Sr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), the 2018 NSIC Player of the Year, obtained his 208^th career hit Saturday, to pass his former teammate Ryan Haggstrom for the all-time mark. Hjelle replaced Haggstrom at first base, following Haggstrom's graduation in 2016. Hjelle now sits at 210 all-time hits.

The Golden Eagles were led on the day by Brock Reller (So., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.), who went 3-of-4 with five RBIs and two runs scored. Griffin Fussy (R-So., SS, Ham Lake, Minn.) was 3-of-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored, as he now leads the team hitting .444 on the season. Ben Thoma (So., C/SS, Clearbrook, Minn.) went 3-of-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored. Landyn Swenson (Jr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) was 3-of-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

Zach Rustad (Jr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.) picked up the win for the Golden Eagles after going six innings, and giving up just three earned runs on four hits with four strikeouts and three walks. Rustad moved to 1-1 with the win.

Esten Beneda (R-Jr., RHP, Lankin, N.D.) shined in relief, as he shut down the Tigers to no hits and no runs with two strikeouts in two frames. Tyler Hegg (Fr., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) went one inning, and allowed one run on one hit.
Gavin Reichmuth earned the loss after struggling in just 2.2 innings. Reichmuth allowed 13 runs, with just four of them earned, on 11 hits. Layne Stafford came on in relief and allowed six earned runs on 10 hits in 4.1 innings. Patrick Starr was the most effective pitcher for Dakota Wesleyan, as he gave up just one run on one hit in two innings, with four strikeouts.

The Tigers were led by Reed Harter, who was 1-of-5 with three RBIs. Wes Anderson was 1-of-3 with one run scored. Minnesota Crookston did not allow more than one hit to any Dakota Wesleyan batter.

Minnesota Crookston put their power on display from the first pitch, as Mason Ruhlman (Jr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.) powered one over the fence for his first blast in the Maroon and Gold. Reller came up two batters later and crushed a two-run shot for his first Minnesota Crookston home run, driving in Hjelle to push the lead to 3-0.

The Golden Eagles broke open the game in the top of the third with 10 runs in the stanza. Hjelle got the scoring started with a two RBI double, playing Ruhlman, and Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., UT, Thunder Bay, Ontario). Errors continued to prolong the inning for the Tigers. Fussy took advantage of the errors that led to the bases loaded situation, as he cleared the ducks off the pond with a three RBI triple to extend the lead to 8-0. A Hunter Baldwin (R-Jr., 3B/1B, St. Thomas, N.D.) double drove in Fussy to push the lead to 9-0. Swenson followed suit with a double of his own, followed by a Jorgenson double to drive in Baldwin.

With Stafford now on the mound, Reller cleared the bases with a double, playing Hjelle, Jorgenson, and Swenson, to move the advantage to 13-0.

Dakota Wesleyan got three runs back as Harter hit a three RBI double in the bottom of the fifth to score Anderson, Drew Demers, and Landon Neugebauer, as the Tigers cut the deficit to 13-3.

Minnesota Crookston got a run back in the top of the sixth when Jorgenson singled in Swenson to extend the lead to 14-3.

The Golden Eagles added five runs in the top of the seventh. Thoma paced Minnesota Crookston with a three run shot over the fence, to plate himself, Hjelle, and Ruhlman, to put the Golden Eagles ahead 17-3.

Scott Finberg (Jr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.) followed up Thoma's shot, with a solo home run, his team-leading second of the season. A Swenson single later in the inning, drove in Fussy to put Minnesota Crookston ahead 19-3.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the top of the ninth as Swenson hit a single to drive in Fussy to put Minnesota Crookston up 20-3.

Dakota Wesleyan got a run back in the bottom of the ninth when J.T. Miller doubled to bring home Gilberto Rodriguez. However, Minnesota Crookston would hang on for the commanding 20-4 win.

The Golden Eagles will look to win the series, and get the possible sweep, as they take on Dakota Wesleyan Sun., Feb. 24 at 11 a.m., and 2 p.m., at Warren Turner Field in Joplin, Mo.