ROLLA, Mo. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up the doubleheader split Monday, February 28 at Ballpark at S&T in Rolla, Mo., against Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T). The Golden Eagles fell 1-0 in a pitcher's duel in the first game, after Jake Dykhoff (R-Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) struck out nine. In game two, the bats came alive for Minnesota Crookston in a 16-2 victory. The Golden Eagles were lifted by five RBIs from Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and four RBIs from Zeke Hass (Jr., OF, Eaton, Colo.). In addition, Conner Richardson (R-Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) had a strong outing, getting the win for UMN Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston moved to 4-8 following Monday's split. Missouri S&T is now 2-1 on the 2022 season.

Game One
Dykhoff continued his outstanding start to the season, as the Golden Eagle pitcher shoved a complete game, with nine strikeouts, and no walks. Dykhoff gave up just four hits, and one earned run in the loss. Elijah Gross got the win for the Miners, after striking out six, and allowing just three hits over five innings on the bump. David Kephart earned the save for Missouri S&T, pitching two innings, and not allowing a run, or a hit.

Minnesota Crookston had three hits in the first game. Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C/3B, Clearbrook, Minn.) went 1-of-3. Ben Goelz (R-So., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) went 1-of-2, while Ben Bryant (R-Sr., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.) was 1-of-2.
The Miners were guided by Tommy Ruether, who went 1-of-2, with one RBI. Dakota Sill finished 1-of-3, with a run scored. Doug Wood was 1-of-2, as was Brady Voss.

The lone run of the game crossed in the bottom of the third when Ruether singled to drive in Sill.

Game Two
The bats exploded in game two for the Golden Eagles, as they had 16 runs on 16 hits in the 16-2 victory over Missouri S&T. Hjelle led the way, going 1-of-5, with five RBIs, and two runs scored, including a grand slam in the top of the seventh. Hass finished the game 3-of-4, with two doubles, four RBIs, and a run scored. Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) went 3-of-4 with three runs scored, and two doubles. Jack Peppel (Sr., 1B, Olivia, Minn.) was 2-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored. Thoma finished 2-of-5, with two runs scored.

Richardson picked up the win, after going five innings, and allowing just one run, on two hits. He struck out three, and walked four. Jake Osowski (R-So., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was outstanding in relief. He tossed four innings, and allowed just one run, with six strikeouts.

The game two loss went to Ethan Morrow, who allowed two runs, on four hits. At the plate, Missouri S&T was guided by Ruether, who went 2-of-5, with an RBI.

Minnesota Crookston jumped on the scoreboard first with a Goelz single to plate Morris to make it 1-0 in the top of the second. The Golden Eagles added a run in the third when Hjelle hit a sacrifice fly to left, driving in Thoma.

In the fifth, Hass broke through with a single to right field, scoring Morris. Peppel then reached on an RBI fielder's choice, plating Goelz to give the Golden Eagles a 4-0 advantage.

The Miners trimmed the deficit to 4-1 in the sixth when Ruether singled to drive in Sill.

However, Minnesota Crookston had a big response in the seventh stanza, scoring seven runs. Hass lit the fire with a two RBI double, bringing around Mitch Goodwin (R-So., SS) and Morris. Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.) then singled to drive in Hass to extend the lead to 7-1. Hjelle then broke it open, with a grand slam over the left field fence, bringing home Bryant, Nunn, and Peppel to widen the gap to 11-1.

The Golden Eagles added a run in the eighth as Hass continued a big game with a double to score Goodwin and make it 12-1.

Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 13-1 when Thoma scored on a fielding error. Paxton Nelson (Jr., OF, Spicer, Minn.) would come home when Cameron DeMaria (Fr., 1B, Fresno, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice, to extend the lead to 15-1. UMN Crookston capped it off with a Teddy Giefer (So., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) double, driving in Americo Sculati (Fr., RHP/OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) to make it 16-1.

The Miners got a run back on a sacrifice fly by Sill, to drive in Tate Morrell, however the damage had already been done.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up their series with Missouri S&T Tuesday, March 1 at 3 p.m. in Rolla, Mo.