AUBURNDALE, Fla. – A Tyler Jochen (R-Sr., 2B/SS, San Jose, Calif.) two-run home run led a four-run fifth as the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team took down Lewis University 7-3. Jochen's blast paired with the strong pitching of Jake Dykhoff (R-Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.).

The Golden Eagles improved to 6-9 with Monday's victory at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla. Minnesota Crookston moved to 1-1 in games at the RussMatt Invitational in Florida. Lewis dropped to 2-6 with the loss. The Flyers are 2-1 in Florida with victories over West Virginia Wesleyan University, and Concordia University-St. Paul.

Dykhoff improved to 3-1 with Monday's victory. He pitched six innings, allowing just two earned runs, on six hits. Dykhoff struck out five, and walked just one. Brody Sorenson (So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) pitched the final three innings, allowing just one run, with three strikeouts, and no walks.

Jonathan Hanscom picked up the loss after tossing five innings, and allowing two earned runs, on three hits. Hanscom struck out seven, with three walks.

Minnesota Crookston was guided by Jochen, who went 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Sunny Resnick (Sr., C, Twin Valley, Minn.) finished 1-of-4, with a run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with a run scored, and an RBI. Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with one run scored.

The Flyers were guided by Kevin Barry, who went 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Cherokee LeBeau went 1-of-4, with a run scored. Michael Alt finished 2-of-4. David Ascencio and Patrick Keaty each went 1-of-3.

Lewis jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Barry tripled to drive in LeBeau in the bottom of the first. Barry came in to score on a Thomas Fox sacrifice fly to make it 2-0.

UMN Crookston trimmed the deficit to 2-1 as Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C/3B, Clearbrook, Minn.) came in on a Zeke Hass (Jr., OF, Eaton, Colo.) groundout.

Minnesota Crookston took the lead in the top of the fifth with a two-run blast from Jochen, driving in Resnick to make it 3-2. UMN Crookston pushed their lead to 4-2 when Hjelle scored on a passed ball. The Golden Eagles widened their lead to 5-2 when Morris scored on a Thoma sacrifice fly.

Lewis pulled within 5-3 in the bottom of the fifth when Julian Everett scored on a Barry sacrifice fly.  

The Golden Eagles pushed their lead out to 6-3 in the top of the ninth when Hjelle singled to left field, driving in Ben Bryant (R-Sr., 2B/SS, Fargo, N.D.). Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) then delivered a single to plate Nunn to widen the gap to 7-3. Kyle Hussey pitched out of a bases loaded situation to keep the score at 7-3.

Lewis pulled within 7-4 with one swing from pinch hitter Cade Headrick in the bottom of the ninth. Sorenson was able to secure the final outs to preserve the Golden Eagle victory.

The Golden Eagles continue play in Florida with two games at Saint Leo University Tuesday, March 8 at 5 p.m. C.T., and Wednesday, March 9 at 5 p.m. C.T., at Thomas B. Southard Stadium in Saint Leo, Fla.