AUBURNDALE, Fla. – Jayden Grover (Sr., RHP, Cooperstown, N.D.) tossed a three-hit shutout for the Minnesota Crookston baseball team as they picked up an 8-0 win over Saint Anselm College Sat., Feb. 29 at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla. Grover got support from the Golden Eagle bats guided by a three-run home run from Brock Reller (Jr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) and two RBIs from Ben Bryant (R-So., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.).

The Golden Eagles move to 4-4 on the season with Saturday's win. Minnesota Crookston has posted a 3-2 mark during the 2020 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Saint Anselm falls to 4-1 with the loss in Auburndale, Fla.

Grover put together one of his strongest pitching performances as a four-year starter for the Golden Eagles, as he pitched a shutout against the Hawks over eight innings with 14 strikeouts and just two walks. Tyler Hegg (So., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) was strong in one inning of work with one hit allowed and one strikeout.

Offensively, the Golden Eagles notched eight runs on seven hits. Minnesota Crookston also reached base with five walks on the day. Bryant led the way, going 2-of-4 from his leadoff slot with two RBIs and one run scored. Reller went 1-of-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored, including his three-run blast. Brad Morris (Jr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) finished 2-of-4 with one RBI and one run scored. Jake Hjelle (Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-3 with one run scored, while Eli Jung (Jr., OF, Dickinson, N.D.) finished 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Will Conaton with 1-1 with the loss after giving up four earned runs in three innings on five hits. Frankie Roder was strong in relief for the Hawks, pitching two shutout innings.

Saint Anselm was paced at the plate by Enzo Merionghi, who was 2-of-3 for the game. Brady Doran went 1-of-2 for the Hawks.  

The Golden Eagles took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as Reller scored on a Jung sacrifice fly to center field.

Minnesota Crookston had a huge inning in the bottom of the third as they notched five runs for the frame. Reller came through with the crucial hit, as he blasted a three-run home run to drive in, himself, Morris, and Mason Ruhlman (Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.) to push the advantage to 4-0. Later in the frame, Bryant singled to center field to drive in Hjelle and Ben Thoma (Jr., C, Clearbrook, Minn.) to extend the advantage to 6-0.

Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 7-0 in the bottom of the fifth when Finberg scored on a wild pitch.

The Golden Eagles widened the lead to 8-0 as Morris singled to plate Bryant.

Minnesota Crookston continues play in the Sunshine State, as the Golden Eagles take on Gannon University Sun., March 1 at 3 p.m. C.T. at Chain O' Lakes Stadium in Winter Haven, Fla.