ST. LEO, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team scored three runs in the top of the seventh to topple Saint Leo University 5-2 at Thomas B. Southard Stadium in St. Leo, Fla. The Golden Eagles were able to get the winning runs in the seventh after the two teams were knotted up 2-2 heading into the seventh inning. Minnesota Crookston was able to preserve the win using a dominant save from Dalton Grose (Sr., LHP, Waterville, Minn.), who struck out five of seven batters faced for his second save of the 2020 season.

Minnesota Crookston moves to 6-4 with Monday's win over the Lions. Saint Leo falls to 3-14 on the 2020 season. The Lions had 25 wins on the 2019 season. The Golden Eagles are currently 5-2 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational with three games remaining.

The Golden Eagles had five runs on 15 hits for the game, as they continue to be strong at the plate in 2020, hitting .311 on the season. Minnesota Crookston was led by Scott Finberg (Sr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.), who was 2-of-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Brock Reller (Jr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) finished 2-of-4 with one run scored. Ben Thoma (Jr., C, Clearbrook, Minn.) went 2-of-4 with one RBI. Yadiel Ortiz (Jr., 3B/RHP, Patillas, Puerto Rico) finished 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Phil Hindes (Jr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) put the Golden Eagles in position to win with a strong outing on the rubber. Hindes went 5.1 innings, allowing just two runs on six hits with one strikeout.

Tyler Hegg (So., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) got the win for Minnesota Crookston after tossing 1.2 innings with no runs on no hits with three strikeouts. Grose got the save with no runs on no hits over two innings. Grose struck out five with just one walk in a dominant performance.

Trevor Sanchez suffered the loss for Saint Leo after giving up two earned runs on three hits in 0.2 innings of work. Andy Booth was strong in his start, going 5.1 innings and allowing just two runs on 10 hits with two strikeouts.

Sam Crail paced the Lions going 3-of-4 with one run scored. Zach Benson was 1-of-3 with one RBI.

Minnesota Crookston got on the scoreboard in the top of the second as Finberg powered a ball over the left field fence to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0. The Golden Eagles would put two more on base with a Thoma single and a walk offered to Jake Hjelle (Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.). However, Booth got the Lions out of further trouble.

 The Golden Eagles looked to add to their tally in the top of the third. Mason Ruhlman (Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.) led off the frame with a single. He moved over to second as Brad Morris (Jr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) reached on a fielding error, giving Minnesota Crookston two on with no out. Saint Leo's Booth retired three straight as the Lions kept the Golden Eagles at bay despite a strong start to the top of the third.

Hindes continued to mow through the Lions' order, as he gave up just one hit over the first three innings. Booth got two quicks outs in the top of the fourth before Ben Bryant broke through with a two-out single. The Fargo, N.D., native stole second to move into scoring position for Minnesota Crookston. Booth got Bryce Jorgenson (Sr., OF, Thunder Bay, Ontario) to fly to right center, as the Golden Eagles were unable to extend their lead as the score remained 1-0.

The Lions obtained their second hit of the game as Crail singled off Hindes. The Golden Eagle pitcher worked his way out of any trouble, as Minnesota Crookston kept the 1-0 advantage.

With two outs, Reller singled through the right side as the Golden Eagles looked to widen the gap. However, Booth came through with a crucial strikeout from Finberg.

The Lions broke through and knotted the game up 1-1 as Benson doubled down the left field line to drive in Ariel Martinez.

Minnesota Crookston looked to respond in the top of the sixth. Thoma opened up the stanza with a single to left field. Hjelle delivered a double to left field. Thoma looked to score, but he would be thrown out as home, with Hjelle moving to third on the throw. Hjelle came home on a Ortiz single through the left side as the Golden Eagles reclaimed the lead 2-1 and chased Booth from the game. Trevor Sanchez got the Golden Eagles out of the inning.

Crail opened the bottom of the sixth with a double to right field. Crail advanced the third on a fielding error. A sacrifice fly by Jake Vander Wal, the son of long-time Major Leaguer John Vander Wall, knotted the tilt up 2-2. A Brett Esau double continued the inning for the Lions. Hegg came on to try to get Minnesota Crookston out of danger. Hegg got two crucial outs as the game remained tied up at 2-2 heading to the top of the seventh.

Morris and Reller strung together back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh as the Golden Eagles looked to get the edge over Saint Leo. A Finberg single to right field loaded up the bases with no outs for Minnesota Crookston. Hunter Keim came on in relief to try to get the Lions out of the bases loaded situation. Ben Thoma hit a sacrifice fly to drive in Morris to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 edge. Reller came in to score on a failed pickoff attempt by Keim to push the gap to 4-2. Minnesota Crookston continued a big inning as Eli Jung (Jr., OF, Dickinson, N.D.) singled to plate Finberg and push the advantage to 5-2.

Grose came in to shut down the Lions in the final two innings as Minnesota Crookston picked up the 5-2 victory.

Minnesota Crookston has a day off of varsity competition. They will return to face West Virginia Wesleyan Wed., March 4 at 12:30 p.m. C.T. at Lake Myrtle Complex – Field 6 in Auburndale, Fla.