Box Score PITTSBURG, Kan. – Conner Richardson (So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) stellar outing on the bump led the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team to an 8-0 win over Pittsburg State University Sat., Feb. 15 at Al Ortolani Field in Pittsburg, Kan. The Minnesota Crookston bats were led by Brock Reller (Jr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.), who was 2-of-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, including a solo shot in the fifth inning.

Minnesota Crookston evens up the series with Pittsburg State 1-1 as they move to 1-1 on the 2020 season. The Gorillas fall to 3-6 after falling to the Golden Eagles on Saturday. The win for the Golden Eagles comes over Pittsburg State, who tallied 31 wins and tallied three victories in the MIAA Tournament last year.

In addition to Reller's bat, Minnesota Crookston had strong performances from several players. Will Zimmerman (Sr., SS, Park River, N.D.) finished 3-of-5 from his leadoff slot with one RBI and two runs scored. Bryce Jorgenson (Sr., OF, Thunder Bay, Ontario) finished 3-of-6 with an RBI and a run scored. Landyn Swenson (Sr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) finished 2-of-3 with two runs scored.

The Golden Eagles tallied the eight runs on 15 hits and they also reached base on seven walks on the game.

Richardson got the win to move to 1-0 as the sophomore went six innings with just four hits allowed with one strikeout and one walk. Phil Hindes (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) pitched three innings in his debut for Minensota Crookston. Hindes had one strikeout and no walks.

Pittsburg State utilized six pitchers on the game. Chandler Mauldin got the start and suffered the loss after allowing three runs on eight hits with six strikeouts in 3.1 innings. Justin Root went three innings and gave up three runs on three hits with two strikeouts.

At the plate, the Gorillas scattered five hits on the game. Blain Ohlmeier went 1-of-3 for Pittsburg State. Mason Hartman finished 1-of-2, while Tyson Cushman and Greyson Pinkett were each 1-of-4. Chaz Burgess added a pinch-hit tally.

Minnesota Crookston opened up the scoring with a big inning in the third. Jorgenson got it started with a single to short stop, bringing in Landyn Swenson (Sr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.). The Golden Eagles moved the lead to 2-0 as Zimmerman crossed the plate on a Mason Ruhlman (Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.) sacrifice fly to center field. Minnesota Crookston moved the lead to 3-0 as Reller singled to right field to bring Jorgenson in to score.

The Golden Eagles pushed the advantage to 4-0 with a solo shot from Reller in the fifth frame.

Minnesota Crookston widened the gap to 5-0 as Morris crossed the plate on a passed ball after leading off the inning with a double to right center.

The Golden Eagles pushed the lead to 6-0 as Finberg walked with the bases loaded, bringing in Ruhlman for the run.

Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 8-0 in the eighth frame. Zimmerman opened up the scoring in the frame with a double to right center to bring around Swenson to score. A single from Jorgenson plated Zimmerman to extend the advantage to 8-0.

The Golden Eagles were able to shut the door with the pitching of Richardson and Hindes, as they took the 8-0 victory in their second game of the season.

Minnesota Crookston and Pittsburg State will battle for the series win Sun., Feb. 16 with a first pitch at 12 p.m. in Pittsburg, Kan.