PITTSBURG, Kan. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team and Pittsburg State University played a highly-contested game in the Golden Eagles season opener Fri., Feb. 14 in Pittsburg, Kan. Minnesota Crookston held a 6-4 lead going into the sixth inning, but the Gorillas were able to get the final three runs as they took the series opener 7-6. Greyson Pinkett scored the final tally of the game as he scored on a Will Zimmerman (Sr., SS, Park River, N.D.) throwing error sending Pittsburg State to the win despite a strong overall effort in Friday's opener. Minnesota Crookston looked to put a rally together after a two-out single in the top of the ninth from Scott Finberg (Sr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.), however Colton Larkins earned the save with a key strikeout to preserve the 7-6 win.

Minnesota Crookston opens the 2020 season with a 0-1 mark. Pittsburg State moves to 3-5 with Friday's series opening victory. 

The Golden Eagles scattered seven hits on the game with six runs scored. Minnesota Crookston was paced by Bryce Jorgenson (Sr., OF, Thunder Bay, Ontario), who went 1-of-4 with one run scored and three RBIS on a three-run home run in the fifth inning.

Brad Morris (Jr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) finished 1-of-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Brock Reller (Jr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) was 1-of-3 with a run scored following a triple. Jake Hjelle (Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) made his collegiate debut, going 1-of-4 including an RBI single, while Chad Musser (Jr., OF/1B, Plymouth, Minn.) was 1-of-3 with a run scored.

Jayden Grover (Sr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) had a strong debut on the rubber for the Golden Eagles, going five innings with just two earned runs allowed with five strikeouts and two walks. Gregory Diax (R-Jr., RHP, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout and three walks. Esten Beneda (R-Sr., RHP, Lankin, N.D.) had an effective outing with two strikeouts in 0.2 innings of work.

David Henderson got the win in relief for the Gorillas after pitching 3.1 innings with six strikeouts and no walks. Henderson gave up just one hit and no runs in a solid outing in relief of starter Tanner Lane. Lane gave up five earned runs in 4.2 innings of work with three strikeouts and two walks. Lane left the game with the Gorillas trailing 6-4. Larkins got the save after striking out two in one inning on the mound.

Pittsburg State was propelled by Tyler Pittman, who was 3-of-5 with an RBI and two runs scored. He had a triple in Friday's game. Tyson Cushman finished 2-of-4 with three RBIs, including a triple in Friday's game. Mason Hartman went 2-of-4 with one run scored for the Gorillas.

Pittsburg State got the scoring started when Cushman singled to left field to plate Blain Ohlmeier, after he had reached on a fielding error by Mason Ruhlman (Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.).

Minnesota Crookston countered with a big top of the second inning. With one out, Reller came through with a clutch triple to center field. Reller would come in to score as Morris singled through the left side to even the tilt 1-1. Minnesota Crookston went up 2-1 as Hjelle got his first hit in the Maroon and Gold with a single through the left side to drive in Hjelle.

The Gorillas tilted the score in their favor as Cushman singled in Pittman and Ohlmeier to put Pittsburg State ahead 3-2.

Minnesota Crookston evened the tally 3-3 with a sacrifice fly from Finberg to drive in Ben Thoma (Jr., C/RHP, Clearbrook, Minn.).

Pittsburg State took the lead back in the bottom of the fourth when Reece Garvie hit in to a fielder's choice, but Ty Herrenbruck came in to score to put the score at 4-3.

Down 4-3, Jorgenson came through with a clutch at-bat as he put one over the fence for a three-run smash to drive in himself, Musser, and Zimmerman and put Minnesota Crookston up 6-4.

The Gorillas got a run back in the sixth as Koval singled up the middle to plate Pittman and trim the deficit to 6-5.

Pittsburg State knotted the game up 6-6 when Pittman tripled to right field to drive in Pittman.

The Gorillas took the 7-6 lead in the bottom of the eighth as Ryan Koval reached on a throwing error by Zimmerman, allowing Pinkett to come in from third.

Minnesota Crookston was unable to get the equalizer despite Finberg's two-out single as Pittsburg State won a nail-biter in Pittsburg, Kan.

The Golden Eagles will look to even up the series as they take on Pittsburg State Sat., Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kan.