WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell 9-2 to Rockhurst University Thurs., Feb. 27 as they allowed seven runs in the top of the eighth. Minnesota Crookston rallied down 2-0 to knot the game up 2-2 with runs from Mason Ruhlman (Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.), and Scott Finberg (Sr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.) in the bottom of the seventh, but the seven runs would negate the comeback as the Hawks picked up the win.

The Golden Eagles and Hawks were in a pitcher's dual for the first seven innings of Thursday's meeting in the Sunshine State.

Minnesota Crookston got a strong performance on the mound from Matt Nelson (So., RHP, Afton, Minn.), as he gave up just two runs in 5.1 innings of work. Ben Thoma (Jr., RHP, Clearbrook, Minn.) suffered the loss in relief.

Jack Eisenbarger got the win after pitching seven innings and allowing the two runs to the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles move to 3-4 with the loss. Rockhurst improved to 3-4 with Thursday's win at Chain O' Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla. The game was Minnesota Crookston's fourth game in the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. The Golden Eagles had a game cancelled Wednesday with Florida Southern College.

Both teams got a base runner in the first inning as Nathan Mark walked in the top of the first for the Hawks and Ruhlman singled up the middle, but neither team would be able to score a run as the tally remained at 0-0.

Nelson made quick work of the Hawks in the top of the second to keep the score at 0-0. Eisenbarger responded for Rockhurst by striking out the Minnesota Crookston side in the bottom of the second for the Hawks.

Nelson had another great inning in the top of the third as he retired the Hawks in order. Eisenbarger took likewise in his half of the third to keep the score at 0-0 heading into the fourth.

Nic Mertes led off the top of the fourth inning with a double for Rockhurst down the right field line. Mertes moved over to third on a wild pitch. Nelson rebounded with the next batter and struck out Mark. A Garrett McNally sacrifice fly to right field drove in Mertes to move the score to 1-0. Nelson was able to get out of the situation with just one run allowed as the Golden Eagles trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the third

Ben Bryant (R-So., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.) looked to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning strong, but a well-hit ball was gloved at third on a great play by Connor Ellefson. With one out, Ruhlman beat out an infield single for the Golden Eagles. Ruhlman moved over to second on a stolen base but would be unable to get home as the score remained 1-0 in favor of Rockhurst.

After striking out Ellefson in the first at-bat on the top of the fifth, Finberg made a great play at third base to prevent the infield single from Jack Burns. The Golden Eagles followed that up by a nice play on a ground ball by Ruhlman to keep the tally at 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fifth.

Eisenbarger retired Minnesota Crookston in order in the bottom of the fifth as the score remained 1-0 in favor of the Hawks

Mertes doubled in the top of the sixth. Thoma came on in relief of Nelson after Mertes' double. Mark doubled as he traded places with Mertes to put the Hawks up 2-0.

Eisenbarger and Thoma both worked quickly in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh respectively, as both retired the sides consecutively to keep the score intact.

Ruhlman led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, as he looked to get Minnesota Crookston's bats going. Finberg would reach base to give the Golden Eagles two on with no out. A wild pitch moved the runners 90 feet closer to home with one out. A walk offered to Brad Morris (Jr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) loaded up the bases with Golden Eagles with just one out. A wild pitch brought in Ruhlman to give the Golden Eagles their first run of the game, while moving Finberg and Morris closer to pay dirt. A single from Thoma drove in Finberg. Thoma tried to stretch the single into a double on the throw. The junior from Clearbrook, Minn., reached second, but Morris was thrown out at home, giving the Hawks two outs. Another wild pitch moved Thoma closer to home with two outs. Eisenbarger was able to get a strikeout of Hjelle to end the inning but without damage done by the Golden Eagles.

Joe Specht reached on an error to lead off the top of the eighth for the Hawks. Pinch-hitter Blake Pickard reached base, as well, to give Rockhurst two runners on the base paths with no outs.  Thoma responded with a strikeout of Craig Straws for a big first out of the inning. That would be Thoma's final pitch as Trace Brayton came on for his collegiate debut. Mertes walked to give the Hawks bases loaded with one out. Gregory Diaz came on to attempt to get Minnesota Crookston out of the sticky situation. A single from Mark drove in Specht and Pickard to give Rockhurst a 4-2 advantage. A single from McNally gave the Hawks another bases loaded situation with one out. Kraus delivered a double to plate Mertes and Mark to push the lead to 6-2 for Rockhurst. Esten Beneda (R-Sr., RHP, Lankin, N.D.) would be the fourth pitcher of the inning as he looked to get Minnesota Crookston out of trouble. Beneda hit Ellefson with the first pitch to give the Hawks another bases loaded situation. A wild pitch for Beneda brought in McNally to push the advantage to 7-2. Hunter Sands was then walked for the Hawks to give the Rockhurst the bases juiced with one out. Garrett Hohn (Sr., RHP, Wausau, Wis.) would be the fifth pitcher of the frame, as he attempted to get Minnesota Crookston out of the inning. Two more runs would cross on walks with the bases loaded to push the lead to 9-2. Hohn was able to get the final two out of the inning as the Golden Eagles looked to answer in the bottom of the eighth.

Thomas Jones was able to retire Minnesota Crookston in order in the bottom of the eight as they kept a 9-2 advantage intact. Hohn responded in the next half inning by only allowing a walk, but putting up a zero in the frame as the Golden Eagles looked to have one last chance at making up the seven run difference.

Eli Jung (Jr., OF, Dickinson, N.D.) reached base on a single in the bottom of the ninth, but Jones retired Yadiel Ortiz (Jr., RHP/3B, Patillas, Puerto Rico), as the Hawks won 9-2.

Minnesota Crookston will play junior varsity games Friday before returning to play for their varsity squad Sat., Feb. 29 against Saint Anselm College at 4:30 p.m. C.T. at Lake Myrtle Complex – Field 6 in Auburndale, Fla.