FAYETTE, Iowa – Jake Hjelle (R-Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) powered two home runs and notched five RBIs in a 10-6 come-from-behind win for the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team over Upper Iowa University. The Golden Eagles were trailing 6-5 heading into the top of the seventh, but scored five runs in the final three innings to upend the Peacocks.

Minnesota Crookston continues their best start in program history, moving to 12-0 (8-0 NSIC) with Monday's win. They remain tied for first in the NSIC with Minnesota State University. Upper Iowa falls to 3-8 (2-5 NSIC) with the loss.

Hjelle led the way going 4-of-5 with five RBIs and three runs scored, including two home runs and a double. Parker Stroh (R-Fr., C, Grand Forks, N.D.) went 2-of-2 with two RBIs and a run scored, led by a two-run home run in the top of the ninth. Mason Ruhlman (R-Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.) went 1-of-4 with an RBI and a run scored.

Garrett Hohn (R-Sr., RHP, Wausau, Wis.) picked up the win in relief. He tossed 1.2 innings and gave up no runs on one hit. It is the first career win at UMN Crookston for Hohn. Brody Sorenson (Fr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) picked up his third save of the season to continue a fantastic start to his young career. Sorenson gave up no hits and no runs in 1.1 innings of work.

Conner Richardson (R-So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started the game and gave up four runs on five hits in four innings. Richardson had seven strikeouts and just two walks. Tyler Hegg (R-So., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) also was effective in relief. Hegg allowed no runs on no hits in 1.2 innings on the mound.

The loss went to Upper Iowa's Steve Marhefke, who allowed four runs on four hits in relief for the Peacocks.

Upper Iowa looked to start the game with a lead as they had three runners reach base in the bottom of the first. However, Richardson had a crucial strikeout of Evan Kerlin to keep the scoreboard at 0-0.
Minnesota Crookston broke through in the top of the second when Hjelle blasted one over the left field fence to score himself and Scott Finberg (R-Sr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.) and give UMN Crookston a 2-0 advantage.

The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 3-0 in the third when Finberg was walked with the bases loaded to score Landyn Swenson (R-Sr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.). Later in the frame, Hjelle knocked a double down the left field line to plate Ruhlman and Brock Reller (Sr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.) and extend the UMN Crookston lead to 5-0.

Upper Iowa turned the ides in the bottom of the fifth. Ryan Hull got a jump on things for the Peacocks with a solo shot to left field to trim the deficit to 5-1. With two men on, Alex Greene singled up the middle to score Jake Hilmer and Kyle Routhieaux to cut the lead to 5-3 and chase Richardson from the game. A Matthew Hall single off Jackson Schneider (Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) scored Greene to cut the UMN Crookston lead to 5-4. With the bases loaded, Noah Gyldenvand was walked by Schneider to score Kerlin and tie up the score 5-5. With Hegg now pitching, Hall came into score on a wild pitch to give Upper Iowa a 6-5 advantage. Hegg then secured the final two outs of the inning to get Minnesota Crookston out of further trouble.

The Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the sixth, but were unable to get any runs across as Upper Iowa maintained a 6-5 lead.

UMN Crookston tied the game up 6-6 in the top of the seventh with a solo blast from Hjelle.

The Golden Eagles widened their lead to 8-6 in the top of the eighth. Will Zimmerman (R-Sr., OF/SS, Park River, N.D.) came through with a double to drive in Swenson to extend the advantage to 7-6. Later in the inning, Ruhlman singled up the middle to plate Zimmerman to make it 8-6.

Upper Iowa had two runners in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth but Sorenson was able to get a big out to preserve the 8-6 lead. UMN Crookston added security runs in the top of the ninth with a two-run home run from Stroh to push the advantage to 10-6.

Samuel Grushkin walked to lead off the bottom of the ninth. However, Sorenson got three big outs to get the save and preserve the 10-6 win for the Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagles are hitting .307 on the season with 140 runs scored, 29 doubles, six triples, 29 home runs, and 120 RBIs. Minnesota Crookston needs just nine home runs to surpass a school-record 37 home runs set in 2016.

Minnesota Crookston will look to continue their unblemished start as they take on No. 19 Augustana University Tuesday, March at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. in Sioux Falls, S.D.