CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team forced the No. 17 team Augustana University to 11 innings in game, but ultimately fell 5-3 and 6-1 to the Vikings. The Golden Eagles had strong pitching on the day, but were unable to get their bats going in the pair of losses.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 12-17 (4-6 NSIC) with the pair of losses. Augustana improved to 21-4-1 (11-1 NSIC) with the victories.

Game One
The Golden Eagles were guided by the pitching of Jake Dykhoff (R-Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.), who has been one of the top pitchers in the NSIC this year, including two NSIC Pitcher of the Week honoree. Dykhoff went eight innings, allowing just one run, on four hits. Dykhoff struck out eight, and walked just two.

He went toe-to-toe with Tanner Brown of Augustana, who tossed 7.2 innings, allowing one run, on two hits. Brown struck out 12, and walked just three.

Caleb Kranz earned the win in relief for the Vikings. He went two innings, allowing two earned runs, on two hits.

Isaac Roers (Fr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) was effective in relief, throwing two innings of shutout baseball, and striking out two. Jackson Schneider (R-Jr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) was tagged with the loss, after giving up two runs, on three hits.

Minnesota Crookston was propelled by Jake Hjelle (R-So., 3B/OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who went 1-of-4, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Brad Morris (R-Sr., OF, Auckland, New Zealand) was 1-of-4, with two runs scored. Matt Nunn (Jr., C, Edina, Minn.) finished 1-of-4.

The Vikings looked to Will Olson, who was 2-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored. Jaxon Rosencranz finished 2-of-4, with an RBI. Drey Dirksen was 1-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored.

Augustana took the 1-0 advantage when Will Olson smacked a home run over the right field fence. The Golden Eagles responded in the bottom of the first with a Thoma double, driving in Morris. However, UMN Crookston left the bases loaded in the bottom of the first.

That was all that was in the books for the runs for the next nine innings, as the pitching dominated the story line, led by Brown, and Dykhoff.

Augustana finally broke through in extra innings. In the top of the 11^th, Dirksen hit a two-run home run, driving in pinch-runner Ben Ihrke as the Vikings went ahead 3-1. Jordan Barth crossed on a Rosencranz sacrifice bunt, pushing the score to 4-1. A Maddux Baggs infield single scored Max Mosser to widen the gap to 5-1.

UMN Crookston didn't give up, as they trimmed the deficit to 5-3 in the bottom of the 11^th. Hjelle knocked out his eighth home run of the season, scoring himself and Morris. However, the Golden Eagles were unable to make up the final two runs as the Vikings held on.

Game Two
Augustana scored five runs in the final four innings to triumph over the Golden Eagles 6-1 in the second game of the doubleheader.

Alex Koep (So., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.), the NSIC's strikeout leader, started game two, going 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, on six hits, with four strikeouts, and a walk. Brody Sorenson (So., RHP, Grand Forks, Minn.) went 1.2 innings, giving up just one run, on three hits.

Ryan Jares picked up the win for the Vikings, going six innings, and allowing just one run, on five hits. Jares struck out 10, and walked just one.

The Golden Eagles were led by Morris, who went 2-of-3. Chad Musser (R-Sr., OF, Plymouth, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Tyler Jochen (R-Sr., 2B/SS, San Jose, Calif.) finished 2-of-3.

Augustana was lifted by Barth, who went 2-of-4, with two runs scored. Mosser finished 2-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Dirksen was 1-of-4, with a run scored, while Rosencranz was 1-of-4, with an RBI.

The Vikings took a 1-0 lead in the first with a Carter Howell home run. UMN Crookston tied the game up when Mosser put one over the right field fence in the second.

Augustana pushed their advantage to 2-1 in the fourth with a Mosser single, driving in Barth.

In the fifth, an Olson sacrifice fly plated Baggs to make it 3-1.

The Vikings added two runs in the sixth. A Rosencranz single pushed in Barth, followed by a J.T. Mix sacrifice bunt, scoring Mosser.

Augustana widened the gap to 6-1 in the seventh with a Dirksen home run, and they didn't look back.

Minnesota Crookston will finish up their series with Augustana at 1 p.m. Monday, April 4. The game was pushed back to help get the field ready Monday.