CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team earned a split with Augustana University, the defending NCAA Division II Champions Wed., April 10 at UMC Baseball Field in Crookston, Minn. The Golden Eagles won the first game 2-1 on a walk-off as Brock Reller (So., OF, Grand Forks, Minn.) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to drive in Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., UT, Thunder Bay, Ontario) in extra innings. In the second tilt, Augustana shutout the Golden Eagles 3-0 as held Minnesota Crookston to three hits.

The Golden Eagles move to 17-12 (10-5 NSIC) with the split on Wednesday. Minnesota Crookston is just eight wins shy of tying their program record of 25 victories set during the 2016 season. The Golden Eagles have picked up three wins over Augustana in the last four years. Minnesota Crookston last defeated the Vikings April 8, 2017 in Crookston, Minn. Augustana moves to 23-10 (16-3 NSIC) with the split. The Golden Eagles remain in fifth in the NSIC standings, while the Vikings are still in first place.

Game One
Nate Albrecht (Sr., LHP, Wahpeton, N.D.) put Minnesota Crookston in a great place to win against Augustana. Albrecht went 5.2 innings and shut out the Vikings with just seven hits allowed. Albrecht had four strikeouts to four walks. He held Augustana at bay, as the Vikings stranded 13 runners on the game.

Albrecht's pitching allowed the Golden Eagles to be in a spot to win the game. Minnesota Crookston did just that when Reller was hit by a pitch with the bases packed to drive in Jorgenson as they trotted off the diamond with a 2-1 victory.

Louis Gerzin (Sr., RHP, Ely, Minn.) got the win in relief as he went one inning and gave up no runs on no hits with one strikeout and one walk. Dalton Grose (R-So., LHP, Waterville, Minn.) pitched in relief and had a blown save in the seventh inning, as he gave up one run on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.

Evan Furst got the start for Augustana and gave up one run on four hits in five innings as he pitced a solid outing for the Vikings. Thomas Bruss was saddled with the loss after giving up one run on one hit with two strikeouts and three walks. Michael Brandt hit Reller with the pitch that led to Wednesday's game one loss.

Minnesota Crookston was led by Jorgenson, who went 1-of-3 with one run scored. Griffin Fussy (R-So., SS, Ham Lake, Minn.) went 1-of-4. Reller was 0-of-2 with one RBI and a run scored. Ben Thoma (So., C/SS, Clearbrook, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, while Scott Finberg (Jr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.) as 1-of-2 with an RBI.

Augustana was paced by Ryan Nickel, who was 3-of-4. J.T. Mix and Seth Miller both hit 1-of-3 for the game, as did Michael Svozil who went 1-of-3 with a run scored.

The Vikings had a great scoring chance in the top of the second as they loaded the bases with one out. Albrecht came up in a big spot and pitched the Golden Eagles out of danger as he struck out Lucas Wylie and got Nate Crossman to fly out to keep the game knotted at 0-0.

Minnesota Crookston broke the scoreless tie when Finberg singled to left field to drive in Reller to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0.

Augustana had two runners stranded in the third as Albrecht again pitched out of trouble  getting a Sam Baier ground out for the final out.

The Vikings had opportunities in the top of the fourth with a Mix walk and a Wylie single, but Albrecht got out of trouble with a strikeout of Crossman and a fly out to Riley Johnson as the Golden Eagles held a 1-0 advantage.

Augustana had another great opportunity in the top of the sixth after Miller reached on an error and Crossman walked. Grose came on to get the final out as he struck out Johnson to keep the lead at 1-0.

Minnesota Crookston had a great scoring chance in the bottom of the sixth. Landyn Swenson (Jr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) started out the inning with an infield single. A bunt single for Jorgenson gave the Golden Eagles two on with no outs. Minnesota Crookston loaded up the bases as Hjelle was intentionally walked. However, Augustana got out of the inning unscathed as they held the 1-0 lead.

The Vikings broke through and knotted the game up 1-1 after Nickel singled. A misplayed ball by Reller in right field allowed Svozil and Nickel to advance, while an errant throw by Reller allowed Svozil to come around to score to tie the game up.

Minnesota Crookston was unable to break through in the bottom of the seventh as the game went into extra innings.

The Golden Eagles did come through in the bottom of the eighth. Jorgenson walked to lead off the inning. A Fussy single to center field moved Jorgenson to second base to give Minnesota Crookston two on with no out. Hjelle was then walked to pack the bags with no out. That is when Reller was hit by a pitch as Minnesota Crookston walked off with the win.

Game Two
Augustana used phenomenal pitching in the second game to thwart Minnesota Crookston's efforts and earn the 3-0 win. Tanner Brown got the win for the Vikings after throwing 5.2 innings of shutout baseball with three hits allowed. Brown struck out nine and walked just two. Ryan Helgeson earned the save after going 1.1 innings allowing no runs on no hits with two strikeouts.

Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) got the start and had a solid outing for the Golden Eagles. Cherry went 4.1 innings and gave up two earned runs on five hits with three strikeouts and a walk. Aaron Hollcraft (Sr., LHP, Crookston, Minn.) was outstanding in relief, allowing no runs on no hits with one strikeout in 2.2 innings.

Hjelle paced Minnesota Crookston by going 2-of-3. Reller was 1-of-3 for the game.

Johnson led Augustana by going 3-of-4 with two runs scored. Svozil was 1-of-3 with two RBIs, while Miller was also 1-of-3.

The Vikings broke the scoreless tie in the top of the third when Svozil reached on an error, allowing Johnson to come in to score.

Augustana extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the fifth. Svozil had the big hit with a triple to left field to plate Johnson and Mitch Stroh.

The Golden Eagles were unable to cut into the deficit as the Vikings took the 3-0 win.

Minnesota Crookston hits the road for a three-game series with University of Mary Sat., April 13 and Sun., April 14 in Bismarck, N.D.