ALVA, Okla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team opened the 2022 season with a doubleheader sweep of Northwestern Oklahoma State University Sunday, February 6 at Myers Stadium in Alva, Okla. The Golden Eagles were guided by stand-out pitching in an 8-0 shutout win in game one, and were guided by three home runs in Saturday's nightcap, a 13-9 victory.
Minnesota Crookston starts the 2022 season with a 2-0 mark, making it the second-straight year the Golden Eagles have opened the season with a 2-0 record. Northwestern Oklahoma State dropped to 0-2 with the losses.

Game One
Minnesota Crookston took game one of the series with an 8-0 victory over Northwestern Oklahoma State University. The Golden Eagles were guided by their pitching. UMN Crookston starter Jake Dykhoff (R-Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) got the win with a five inning shutout with eight strikeouts and just two walks. Offensively, Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C/3B, Clearbrook, Minn.) paced Minnesota Crookston, going 1-of-4 with a home run, three runs scored, and one RBI.

In addition to Dykhoff's great outing, Minnesota Crookston got strong performances out of the bullpen. Jake Osowski (R-So., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) tossed three innings in relief with two hits allowed and two strikeouts. Brody Sorenson (So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) pitched one inning on the bump.

UMN Crookston had four hits in the game. Minnesota Crookston was led by Thoma, who went 1-of-4 with one RBI and three runs scored. Ben Goelz (So., OF/LHP, Maple Lake, Minn.) made his debut for the Golden Eagles, going 1-of-3 with three RBIs. Jack Peppel (Sr., 1B, Olivia, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, while Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.) was 1-of-1 with two RBIs on a pinch-hit double.

Ethan Swanson got the start for the Rangers in game one. He went 2.2 innings and allowed three earned runs on one hit with six walks and two strikeouts. At the plate, Northwestern Oklahoma State was guided by Shaughn Kelly, who went 2-of-4. Brandon Holdren went 1-of-4, while Hayden Priest was 1-of-3 for the game.

Game Two
Thoma continued his big day into game two. The redshirt senior hit two more home runs, and went 2-of-6 with four RBIs, and two runs scored, as he helped propel the Golden Eagles to a 13-6 win. The Golden Eagles scored 10 unanswered runs from the fifth inning until the bottom of the ninth in order to take down the Rangers. Northwestern Oklahoma State held a 5-3 advantage going into the fifth stanza. The Rangers made a late push as they scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth, but it wouldn't be enough.

In addition to Thoma, Jake Hjelle (R-So., OF/3B/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) went 3-of-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) finished 3-of-6 with two runs scored. Sunny Resnick (Sr., C, Twin Valley, Minn.) made his Golden Eagle debut on the field, going 0-of-2, but walking twice, and finishing with three RBIs and a run scored. Ben Bryant (R-Sr., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.) finished 1-of-4 with two RBIs and a run scored.

The Golden Eagles finished the second game with 13 hits. Hjelle had one home run in the game, while Thoma had two.

Conner Richardson (R-Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started the game and went 2.2 innings, allowing five earned runs, with three strikeouts, and three walks. Alex Koep (So., RHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) had an outstanding relief outing, tossing 5.1 innings with eight strikeouts, no walks, and just three hits allowed. Koep picked up the win in relief for the Golden Eagles. Jackson Schneider (R-Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) came on in the ninth and went 0.1 innings, allowing three earned runs on three hits, and two walks. Logan Spencer (Fr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) made his collegiate debut and got two crucial outs.

Cade Phelps got the start for Northwestern Oklahoma State. He pitched four innings and allowed five runs on six hits. Connor Gibson came on in relief and pitched 2.1 innings with three strikeouts and three earned runs allowed. Dylan Collins tossed 2.2 innings and allowed four earned runs on four hits.

The Rangers were guided by Kelly, who went 2-of-5 with two RBIs, and two runs scored. Dylan Norsen went 2-of-5 with three RBIs, and a run scored. Blake Hoffman finished 2-of-5 with an RBI, and two runs scored.

Minnesota Crookston will wrap up the series with Northwestern Oklahoma State Monday, February 7 at 1 p.m. in Alva, Okla.