Box Score ROLLA, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team fell 6-2 to the Missouri University of Science & Technology (Missouri S&T) to open a three-game series at the Ballpark at S&T in Rolla, Mo. The Golden Eagles played one game Sunday, February 27 after the first game was postponed due to weather. The Miners were guided by 11 strikeouts from starting pitcher Dylan Mollett, and a two-run home run from Aaron Berkhoff.

Minnesota Crookston falls to 3-7 following Sunday's loss to Missouri S&T. The Miners opened their 2022 season with a 1-0 record.

Alex Koep (So., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) got the ball in the start for the Golden Eagles. He went four innings, and allowed four earned runs, on seven hits. Koep struck out seven and walked one. Joey Greco (R-Jr., RHP, Half Moon Bay, Calif.) came on in relief. He went two innings, allowing one unearned run, with four strikeouts, and two walks. Jakob Wiirre (Jr., RHP, Mims, Fla.) came on and pitched a scoreless inning, as did Jackson Schneider (R-Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.).

Mollett picked up the win for Missouri S&T. He went six innings, striking out 11, with no walks, and just five hits allowed. Mollett gave up two runs. Dylan Dunbar came on in relief. He tossed three innings, allowing no runs, with five strikeouts.

Minnesota Crookston had seven hits in the game. Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) led the way, going 2-of-3 with one run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-4 with a home run, and two RBIs. Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.), Zeke Hass (Jr., OF, Eaton, Colo.), Jack Peppel (Sr., 1B, Olivia, Minn.), and Tyler Jochen (R-Sr., IF, San Jose, Calif.) also had hits.

Missouri S&T was guided by Doug Wood, who went 3-of-5 with one RBI. Berkhoff went 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Brady Voss went 1-of-4, with an RBI. Tommy Ruether was 1-of-5, with an RBI, and a run scored, while Garrett Weiner was 1-of-2 with a run scored.

The Miners jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Brady Voss singled to drive Ruether in the bottom of the first. Missouri S&T pushed their advantage to 2-0 in the bottom of the second when Braden Mahurin scored on a wild pitch. The Miners extended their lead to 3-0 when Ruether singled to plate Chase Burgess.

The Miners pushed their lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the third. Weiner opened up the stanza with a triple. Berkhoff blasted a home run, to drive himself and Weiner home.

Minnesota Crookston attempted to get something going in the bottom of the fifth. With two outs, Peppel reached on a single to center field. Jochen kept it going with an infield single, to give the Golden Eagles two on, with two out. However, Mollett struck out Matt Nunn to keep the score at 5-0 in favor of the Miners.

Minnesota Crookston made a dent in the Missouri S&T lead in the top of the sixth. Brad Morris opened the frame with a single. Morris came home as Hjelle powered one over the fence in left center to trim the deficit to 5-2.
Missouri S&T got a run back in the top of the seventh when Doug Wood singled to plate Burgess to push the lead to 6-2.

The Miners were unable to prevent any further runs the rest of the way, as they picked up the 6-2 victory.

Minnesota Crookston is set for a doubleheader against Missouri S&T Monday, February 28 at 12 and 3 p.m. in Rolla, Mo.