ST. CLOUD, Minn. – The St. Cloud State University baseball team powered past the University of Minnesota Crookston 14-0, as they scored 10 of their 14 runs off home runs. The Huskies advance in the NSIC Tournament, while the Golden Eagles move into a win or go-home game Fri., May 10.

Minnesota Crookston put up a threat for runs in the fifth and sixth innings, but the Golden Eagles stranded five runners as they were unable to cut into the deficit.

The Golden Eagles fall to 28-20 with the loss. The Golden Eagles have had their best season in program history with 28 wins. St. Cloud State extends their mark to 39-10. Minnesota Crookston is making their third appearance in the NSIC Tournament in four years. The Golden Eagles are still seeking their first NSIC Tournament win in four appearances.

Zach Rustad (Sr., LHP, Blaine, Minn.) got the start for Minnesota Crookston. Rustad allowed five runs in the first inning, and would not be able to rebound, as he allowed nine runs on nine hits with one strikeout and two walks in 3.2 innings of work. Rustad falls to 6-6 with Thursday's loss.

Matt Nelson (Fr., RHP, Afton, Minn.) pitched 1.1 innings of relief, allowing three runs on four hits. Graeme Cherry (Jr., LHP, Millarville, Alberta) came on and was effective over three innings, putting up two goose eggs on the board, with just two runs on four hits.

Dominic Austing, the ace for the Huskies, who was an All-NSIC First Team pick. Austing got the win after tossing a two-hitter with four strikeouts and two walks over five innings.
The Golden Eagles were led by one hit apiece by Bryce Jorgenson (Jr., UT, Thunder Bay, Ontario), Mason Ruhlman (Jr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.), Scott Finberg (Jr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.), and Landyn Swenson (Jr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.).

Mitch Mallek propelled St. Cloud State by going 3-of-3 with one RBI and three runs scored. Toran Shahidi finished the day 2-of-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored, including a grand slam. Aaron Hammann went 3-of-4 with two RBIs and one run scored. St. Cloud State hit for the cycle in home runs with a one-run blast, two-run shot, three-run home run, and a grand slam.

The Huskies put two on in the bottom of the first with an infield single from Najee Gaskins and a hit by pitch offered to Mallek.  With one out, Mathew Meyer came up and launched one over the Central Minnesota Orthodontics sign in left center to put the Huskies ahead 3-0. The Huskies got two on with two out following a walk to St. Cloud State's Caeden Harris. The Huskies pushed their lead to 5-0 with a clutch double down the left field line by Hammann. Rustad was able to get out of the inning with a slow grounder back to him, but not without St. Cloud State jumping out to the early 5-0 advantage.

Brock Reller (So., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) looked to respond in the top of the second with a long ball to deep center, but the ball was wrangled at the fence by Gaskins. With two outs, Ben Thoma (So., C/SS, Clearbrook, Minn.) reached on an error at third base as the Golden Eagles looked for the two-out rally. However, Austing pitched out of the spot as the Huskies held the 5-0 lead.

St. Cloud State extended their lead to 6-0 with a Meyer sacrifice fly to drive in Lenny Walker.

The Golden Eagles looked to counter in the top of the third as Finberg opened the inning with a double that was wind-aided to left field, falling in front of the left fielder. Finberg moved to third on a wild pitch to put the first run for Minnesota Crookston 90 feet away. Austing got out of the jam with a strikeout of Griffin Fussy (R-So., SS, Ham Lake, Minn.) as the Huskies held the 6-0 lead.

With two outs, St. Cloud State widened their advantage to 8-0 using a two-run home run by Ethan Ibarra, his first of the 2019 season. Swenson made two great plays in center field, including the final out of the inning.

The Golden Eagles got the first runner of the inning on in the top of the fourth as Reed Hjelle (Sr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was hit by a pitch. However, the Golden Eagle first baseman was thrown out by the catcher for the first out of the stanza. The Huskies were able to get out of the frame continuing to hold an 8-0 lead.

St. Cloud State added a run to their lead in the bottom of the fourth with a solo shot by Mallek to put the Huskies ahead 9-0.

The Golden Eagles put two on with two out in the top of the fifth after Swenson was hit by a pitch, and Ruhlman laced a single. Minnesota Crookston would load up the bases with two outs, as Jorgenson was walked. Minnesota Crookston left the bases juiced as Fussy fouled out as St. Cloud State held the 9-0 lead.

The Golden Eagles got a zero behind reliever Nelson in the bottom of the fifth as the Huskies put two on but Thoma threw out the runner at second base on a laser.  

Minnesota Crookston got the first two batters on as Austing walked both Hjelle and Reller. The walks led Coach Pat Dolan to pull Austing in favor of 6-11 lefty Trevor Koenig. Koenig was able to pitch out of the jam as St. Cloud State continued to lead 9-0.

The Huskies loaded up the bases with no outs to open the bottom of the sixth. Graeme Cherry secured one out, but he would not be able to do the same against Shahidi, who blasted one over the left field fence with a grand slam to push the gap to 13-0. An Ibarra sacrifice fly scored Harris to widen the gap to 14-0.

The Golden Eagles looked to respond in the top of the eighth as Reller was walked, and Thoma was hit by a pitch. However, Ryan Wesely got a ground out to conclude the inning.

Minnesota Crookston would be unable to cut into the deficit, as St. Cloud State took the NSIC Tournament game 14-0.

The Golden Eagles will play the loser of Minnesota State University and Northern State University at Dick Putz Field in St. Cloud, Minn., Fri., May 10 at 11:30 a.m. The Minnesota State and Northern State game was in extra innings at the time this story went to press.