MARSHALL, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a split against Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday, April 23 at Legion Field in Marshall, Minn. The Mustangs took game one 7-2, propelled by five runs in the fourth inning. UMN Crookston responded in game two with a 12-2 rout in eight innings over Southwest Minnesota State.

The Golden Eagles improved to 15-22 (7-11 NSIC). Minnesota Crookston moved into a tie for 11^th place in the NSIC standings. Southwest Minnesota State moved to 9-24 (2-19 NSIC) with the split.

Game One
Southwest Minnesota State picked up a 7-2 victory in game one over Minnesota Crookston. The Mustangs were lifted by a two run home run from Nick Brown, and a solo shot from Robbie Smith. Southwest Minnesota State scored five runs in the fourth inning in order to pick up the victory.

Ryan Chmielewski picked up the win for the Mustangs after throwing a complete game. Chmielewski gave up two unearned runs, on four hits. He struck out 11, and walked just two.

Conner Richardson (R-Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started the game for UMN Crookston. Richardson allowed two runs, on six hits in 3.1 innings of work. Jackson Schneider (R-Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) pitched 1.2 innings in relief, allowing one run, on four hits. Phil Hindes (R-Sr., RHP, Tucson, Ariz.) pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

Smith guided the Mustangs, going 2-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Chase McDaniel finished 3-of-3, with a run scored. Andy Andresen was 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored, as did Brown.

The Golden Eagles were guided by a two run round trip from Ben Thoma (R-Sr., C, Clearbrook, Minn.), his team-leading 12^th home run of the season. Thoma was 2-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, as did Ben Goelz (R-So., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.), and Chad Musser (R-Sr., OF, Plymouth, Minn.).

Thoma opened up the scoring in the top of the first with a two run home run, scoring himself, and Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand).

The Mustangs trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the third with a solo shot from Smith.

Southwest Minnesota State responded with a big scoring stampede in the fourth. Brown opened up the stanza with a two-run home run, driving in himself, and Jaxon Haase. Andresen then doubled to right center, plating Max Kalenberg, and McDaniel. An infield single from Keenan Wenzel scored Andresen.

The Mustangs padded their advantage with a Kalenberg single, scoring Owen Latendressen to make it 7-2.

Game Two
UMN Crookston bounced back with a dominant 12-2 effort in the second game of the doubleheader. The Golden Eagles were propelled by home runs from Tyler Jochen (R-Sr., 2B/SS, San Jose, Calif.), and Hjelle. Hjelle was 4-of-6, with two RBIs, and two runs scored to lift the Golden Eagles.

On the mound, Alex Koep (So., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) had a commanding effort in order to improve to 3-4 on the season. Koep went seven innings, allowing just one run, on three hits. Koep struck out nine, and walked just two. Brody Sorenson (So., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) came on for an inning of work, allowing one run, on three hits.

The loss went to Kobe Lovell, who pitched 2.2 innings, giving up two runs, on four hits. Kolby Kiser started the game, and gave up one run, on one hit.

In addition to Hjelle, Goelz went 3-of-4, with three RBIs, and two runs scored. Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.) was 2-of-3, with one RBI, and a run scored. Jochen finished 2-of-4, with two RBIs, and a run scored.

Minnesota Crookston jumped on the Mustangs out of the gate. Nunn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, driving in Mitch Goodwin (R-So., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.).

Southwest Minnesota State evened the slate in the third with a Wenzel sacrifice fly, scoring Andresen.

UMN Crookston notched three runs in the fifth. Hjelle opened everything up with a home run to left center to put the Golden Eagles ahead 2-1. Goelz then doubled to right center, scoring Thoma to push the lead to 3-1. Goelz came in on a wild pitch, to put the Golden Eagles ahead 4-1.

Minnesota Crookston added another three runs in the sixth stanza. Hjelle singled to left field to commence the frame, scoring Nunn. A Goelz single to right field brought in two more, scoring Thoma, and Hjelle to push the lead to 7-1.

The Golden Eagles put a stamp on the lead in the top of the eighth. A Goodwin doubled down the left field line, scoring Thoma. Teddy Giefer (So., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) laced a two-RBI single, plating Goodwin, and Goelz to make it 10-1. Jochen's two-run home run, brought in himself, and Giefer to widen the gap to 12-1.

The Mustangs got one run back in the bottom of the eighth when Smith singled, bringing in Peyton Nash. The run would not be enough for Southwest Minnesota State, as the game was called due to the run rule, 12-2.

Minnesota Crookston and Southwest Minnesota State will play the decisive game in the series Sunday, April 24 at 12 p.m. at Legion Field in Marshall, Minn.