WINONA, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a series sweep with a 14-9 win over Winona State University. The Golden Eagles have continued their best start in the program's NCAA Division II history, as they moved to 7-0 with the win. Winona State falls to 3-5 after Sunday's loss.

Minnesota Crookston scored 14 runs on nine hits. The Golden Eagles also reached base on 12 walks Sunday. The Golden Eagles continue to lead the NSIC as they moved to 20 home runs on the season. UMN Crookston was led by Mason Ruhlman (R-Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.), who went 3-of-5 five four RBIs and two runs scored. Sunday's home run was the first for Ruhlman in 2021. Scott Finberg (R-Sr., 3b, Stillwater, Minn.) went 3-of-5 with six RBIs and two runs scored. Finberg also hit a home run, his second home run of the season. Jake Hjelle (R-Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) went 2-of-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.

Joey Greco (Jr., RHP, Half Moon Bay, Calif.) got the win in relief. He pitched 0.1 innings and gave up three runs on two hits. Jackson Schneider (Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) had an effective outing in relief, going 3.2 innings and allowing no runs on two hits. Conner Richardson (R-So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) got the start for UMN Crookston. Richardson gave up six runs on 11 hits in five innings.

The loss for Winona State went to Justin Firpo. He allowed four runs on three hits in 1.2 innings of work. Dillon Whittaker got the start for the Warriors and gave up five earned runs on three hits in 3.2 innings on the bump.

Minnesota Crookston got the scoring started in the top of the first with a two RBI single from Finberg to plate Will Zimmerman (R-Sr., OF/SS, Park River, N.D.) and Ben Bryant (R-So., SS, Fargo, N.D.).

The Warriors trimmed the lead to 2-1 when Austin Savary singled to right center driving in Sam Kohnle.

A Ruhlman shot to right center pushed the Minnesota Crookston advantage to 3-1 in the top of the third.

Winona State responded when Carter Brinkman tripled to drive in Derek Baumgartner and cut the Golden Eagle lead to 3-2.

Minnesota Crookston had a crucial fourth inning. Hjelle came into score on a wild pitch to extend the advantage to 4-2. Landyn Swenson (R-Sr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) scored on a passed ball to widen the gap to 5-2. To cap off the inning, Ruhlman doubled to center field to score Zimmerman and Bryant to give Minnesota Crookston a 7-2 lead.

Winona State trimmed the deficit to 7-3 when Derek Martin doubled to bring in Jake Brill in the bottom of the fourth. Martin came around to score on a Kohnle ground out to cut the lead to 7-4.

Minnesota Crookston got the runs back in the fifth. Finberg opened things up with a solo home run to left field. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded Zimmerman was hit by a pitch to score Hjelle and push the UMN Crookston lead to 9-4.

Winona State got two runs back in the fifth when Joe Ihrke singled to left center to bring home Brinkman and Savary and trim the deficit to 9-6.

The Warriors had a big inning in the sixth as Baumgartner tripled to score Kohnle and Tanner Williams to cut the UMN Crookston lead to 9-8. Winona State knotted the game up 9-9 with a Brinkman sacrifice fly to score Baumgartner later in the sixth.

UMN Crookston was able to get the runs back with a big seventh inning. Ruhlman continued his big day, as he utilized an RBI single to score Swenson to make it 10-9. A Finberg double to left center then scored Ruhlman and Brock Reller (Sr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) to give UMN Crookston a 12-9 lead. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 13-9 when Hjelle doubled to center field to bring home Finberg.

The Golden Eagles were able to get one more run in the top of the ninth as a sacrifice fly from Finberg scored pinch-runner Matthew Thielen (Fr., SS, Wheaton, Minn.) to extend the lead to 14-9.

Winona State attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth as they loaded the bases. Ihrke reached on a single, followed by walks dealt to Martin and Kohnle. Schneider was able to preserve the 14-9 win as he got a crucial fly out from Williams.

UMN Crookston has continued to have a high-powered offense through the first seven games. The Golden Eagles are currently averaging 14.4 runs per game. Minnesota Crookston has 17 doubles, six triples, 20 home runs, and 62 RBIs. The Golden Eagles are currently hitting .323 as a team.

Minnesota Crookston's sweep over Winona State marked the first conference sweep since a three-game NSIC sweep of Bemidji State April 26 and 27, 2019. The Golden Eagles have the only unblemished mark in the conference after their first seven regular-season games. They are currently in a three-way tie for first in the NSIC standings with Minnesota State University, Mankato and Minot State University.

UMN Crookston will remain on the road in conference play as they take on University of Sioux Falls March 24 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.