AUBURNDALE, Fla.– The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team jumped out to a 7-0 lead after the bottom of the second and didn't look back as they raced past Northwood University 9-3 Friday, March 11 at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla. In addition to nine runs on 13 hits, Jake Osowski (R-So., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) had a stand-out performance on the bump. Osowski went six innings, allowing just one run on six hits. Osowski struck out seven, and walked three in the victory.

The Golden Eagles improved to 7-11 with the victory. UMN Crookston is 2-3 during their trip to Florida. Northwood dropped to 10-9 with the loss at the hands of Minnesota Crookston.

Minnesota Crookston was lifted by the bat of Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C/3B, Clearbrook, Minn.), who went 3-of-5, with four RBIs, and three runs scored, including two home runs. Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 2-of-3, with an RBI, and two runs scored. Ben Goelz (R-So., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored. Zeke Hass (Jr., OF, Eaton, Colo.) went 2-of-4, with two RBIs. Tyler Jochen (R-Sr., 2B/SS, San Jose, Calif.) finished 1-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored.

In addition to Osowski, Phil Hindes (R-Sr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) pitched one inning, allowing two runs, on four hits. Joey Greco (R-Jr., RHP, Half Moon Bay, Calif.) pitched a scoreless inning, as did Jackson Schneider (R-Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.).

The loss for the Timberwolves went to Carson Longstreth, who allowed seven runs, on eight hits, in 1.2 innings on the rubber.

Northwood had 12 hits in the game. Myles Beale went 2-of-4 for the Timberwolves, as did Khale Showers, and Evan Wiegand. Rhett Evans went 2-of-4, with a run scored. Matt Magno finished 2-of-5, with one run scored, and an RBI.

Minnesota Crookston jumped on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the first frame when Goelz singled to left field to drive in Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand). The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 3-0 when Hass sent a double down the left field line to plate Goelz, and Thoma.

The Golden Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the second. Jochen ripped a double to drive in Peppel to move the advantage to 4-0. Hjelle then singled to center field to bring in Jochen. With two outs, Thoma sent one over the left field fence, to plate himself, and Hjelle, extending the lead to 7-0.

Minnesota Crookston extended their lead to 9-0 in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run home run from Thoma, his second of the game, scoring himself, and Hjelle.

The Timberwolves got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth with a David Jeffers double, driving in Rhett Evans to cut the deficit to 9-1.

Northwood pulled within 9-2 when Matt Magno singled, driving in Jacob Rybicki. A Blake Salamon single drove in Magno to trim the deficit to 9-3. However, Morris threw out Showers at third to get the Golden Eagles out of the stanza.

Minnesota Crookston would be able to fend off the Timberwolves late to pick up the 9-3 victory.

The Golden Eagles will play Bentley University Saturday, March 12 at 10:30 a.m. C.T. at Sanford Stadium in Sanford, Fla.