MINOT, N.D. – The fourth-seed University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team came back from a 6-5 deficit to defeat fifth-seed Minot State University 10-6 at Corbett Field in Minot, N.D. The Golden Eagles obtained a crucial sacrifice fly from Mason Ruhlman (R-Sr., 2B, Algonac, Mich.), a two RBI hit from Brock Reller (Sr., OF, Grand Forks, N.D.), and a two-run home run from Scott Finberg (R-Sr., 3B, Stillwater, Minn.) to score five runs in the top of the ninth.

The victory is the first NSIC Tournament win for the Golden Eagles in the program's history. Minnesota Crookston had previously gone 0-8 in NSIC Tournament games. UMN Crookston takes the 1-0 lead in a best-of-three series against Minot State. The Golden Eagles improve to 24-10. Minnesota Crookston is four wins shy of setting their program record for victories. Minot State falls to 24-16 with the loss.

The win went to Jackson Schneider (Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.), as he improved to 3-0. Schneider went one inning and allowed no hits, two walks, and no runs. Brody Sorenson (Fr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) helped preserve the win, tossing one inning, and allowing just one hit and no runs.

UMN Crookston was led by Ruhlman, who went 3-of-4 with four RBIs and a run scored. Ruhlman had a double and a home run. Finberg was 2-of-5 with two RBIs and two runs. Jake Hjelle (R-Fr., 1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) went 3-of-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

Aaron Kern suffered the loss, as he had the blown save. Kern allowed five runs on four hits.

Jake Dykhoff (Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) got the start for Minnesota Crookston and allowed five earned runs on seven hits. Dykhoff had seven strikeouts.

The first inning went quickly as the only hit by either team came on a double from Ruhlman. Minot State was able to break through in the bottom of the second as a Riley Humrighouse single drove on Jake Collins to give the Beavers an early 1-0 lead.

Bobby Chu (R-Sr., C, Redwood City, Calif.) looked to ignite the response for the Golden Eagles with a lead-off double down the right field line in the top of the third. Chu moved over to third on a Ben Bryant (R-Jr., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.) ground out. The Golden Eagles put two on with two outs, as Zimmerman earned a walk to put runners on the corners. Ruhlman was able to come through with a rocket shot over the fence in right center toward Sunnyside Elementary.

The Beavers trimmed the deficit to 3-2 with a solo home run in the bottom of the third by Nolan Monthei. Kaiden Cardoso followed it up with a home run of his own to make it back-to-back smashes as Minot State knotted the game up 3-3. Dykhoff rebounded and got the groundout of Collins to get out of the frame.

Minnesota Crookston took the lead back 4-3 with a home run by Hjelle in the top of the fourth.

Drew Behling and Monthei each walked with one out to give Minot State two base-runners in the bottom of the fifth. A walk offered to Collins loaded up the bases with two outs for the Beavers. Dykhoff was able to get an important out as Bryant dove on the center field turf to make the play to keep the score at 4-3 in favor of the Golden Eagles.

With one out in the top of the sixth, Finberg lofted one down the left field line for a double. Hjelle came through with a double down the left field line to pick up Finberg, and extend the UMN Crookston lead to 5-3. Hjelle's double chased Martinez from the game in the top of the sixth, as Scott Eul went to the bullpen, calling upon reliever Craig Schmich. He was able to secure the final two outs, but not before UMN Crookston extended their lead.

The Beavers got Dykhoff out of the game with a double from Matt Malone to drive in Declan Buckle and Humrighouse and knot the game up 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth. Alex Koep (Fr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) came on and retired the first batter he faced. However, Monthei singled to plate Malone and give Minot State a 6-5 advantage. Tyler Hegg (R-So., RHP, Thompson, N.D.) was able to come on and strike out Collins to get out of the stanza.

Ben Thoma (R-Jr., C, Clearbrook, Minn.) led off the top of the seventh with a walk, giving UMN Crookston a baserunner. Bryant grounded into a fielder's choice, with Thoma retired at second base. But UMN Crookston still had a baserunner with just one out. Chappell was able to get Zimmerman out. Ruhlman came through with a single to keep the inning alive. Chappell got Reller to ground out to first to preserve the 6-5 lead.

The Beavers had two reach base in the bottom of the seventh, but Hegg was able to work through it and keep the game at 6-5 as he struck out Malone to get out of danger.

With one out, Hjelle reached on a walk to give UMN Crookston a baserunner in the top of the eighth. Minot State was able to get out of it as Swenson grounded into a double play as Minot State held the 6-5 advantage.

The first two runners of the bottom of the eighth reached for the Beavers as Schneider walked Behling and Monthei. Minnesota Crookston was able to get out of trouble as Monthei was off on an interference play at second base, and then Collins grounded into a double play at third base.

Minnesota Crookston started off the top of the ninth with pinch-hitter Parker Stroh (R-Fr., C, Grand Forks, N.D.) reaching on a single through the right side. With one out, Bryant was walked to give the Golden Eagles two on, with just one out. Kern walked Zimmerman to load the bases with Golden Eagles with just one out. A Ruhlman sacrifice fly drove in Stroh to knot the game up 6-6 in the top of the ninth. Reller delivered in the clutch with a two RBI hit to drive in Zimmerman and Bryant to put UMN Crookston ahead 8-6. Finberg then jumped on the train with a home run over the left field fence to give the Golden Eagles a 10-6 lead and five runs in the top of the ninth. Kern was able to get a Landyn Swenson (R-Sr., OF, Devils Lake, N.D.) groundout to end the inning.

Minot State looked to respond in the bottom of the ninth with a Jordan Williams single, but they were unable to as Sorenson got out of further danger to preserve the win. He was aided by an incredible double play aided by an outstanding play from Bryant to Tyler Jochen (R-Jr., 2B/SS, San Jose, Calif.).

Minnesota Crookston will play their second game against Minot State at 3 p.m. at Corbett Field in Minot, N.D. A second game will be played if necessary 30 minutes after the 3 p.m. game.