Box Score ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State University overcame an early 3-2 deficit to pick up the 8-4 victory over the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team Monday, February 7 at Myers Stadium in Alva, Okla.

The Golden Eagles win the series, and sit at 2-1 on the season. Northwestern Oklahoma State improved to 1-2 with Monday's win.

Matt Nelson (R-Jr., RHP, Afton, Minn.) got the start on the bump and went three innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits in the loss. Isaac Roers (Fr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) made his debut and tossed two innings, allowing two runs on six hits. Trace Brayton (R-So., LHP, Prentice, Wis.) went 0.2 innings, giving up one run on two hits. Joey Greco (R-Jr., RHP, Half Moon Bay, Calif.) went 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Phil Hindes (R-Sr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) went one inning and allowed no runs and one hit, and three strikeouts.

At the plate, Minnesota Crookston scattered six hits on the game. The Golden Eagles were lifted by Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who went 1-of-3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C/3B, Clearbrook, Minn.) finished 1-of-4 with one RBI and a run scored. Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) went 1-of-3 with a run scored. Ben Goelz (So., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) was 1-of-4 with an RBI.

Emilio Lovato got the win on the mound for the Rangers. He went seven innings, and allowed just two earned runs, with seven strikeouts, and no walks. At the plate, Blake Hoffman was 2-of-5 with three RBIs and a run scored. Dylan Norsen went 2-of-5 with two runs scored, and an RBI.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first on a Hjelle solo shot to right center. The Golden Eagles pushed the lead to 2-0 as Thoma scored when Mitch Goodwin (So., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.) reached on an error. Minnesota Crookston added a run in the next at-bat, as Goelz singled to plate Morris to give the Golden Eagles a 3-0 advantage.

The Rangers trimmed the deficit to 3-1 in the bottom of the first when Brandon Holdren reached on a fielder's choice, allowing Shaughn Kelly to come in.

Northwestern Oklahoma State pulled within 3-2 as Hayden Priest hit a sacrifice fly to left field to drive in Yugo Hamakawa in the bottom of the second.

The Rangers took over the lead on the bottom of the third with a three-run shot by Hoffman to plate Kelly and Haruki Kitazaki as Northwestern Oklahoma State led 5-3.

The Rangers extended their lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Priest.

The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fifth when Thoma doubled in Hjelle.

Northwestern Oklahoma State got the run back in their half of the fifth when Fred Buckson singled in Norsen.

The Rangers added a run in the bottom of the sixth with a solo shot from Norsen.

Minnesota Crookston will head to even warmer weather as they are set for a six-game series at the University of Hawai'I at Hilo. They will play in Hilo, Hawai'i beginning Thursday, February 10 at 10 p.m. C.T.