CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team officially released their 2024 schedule. The Golden Eagles are coming off their best season in program history, as they went 38-20 (26-10), and finished their season at the 2023 NSIC Tournament. Minnesota Crookston was led by Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) earning NSIC Player of the Year, and NCBWA National Player of the Year. Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/1B, Wadena, Minn.) also returns after earning NCBWA All-Region Second Team, and NSIC Freshman of the Year. The Golden Eagles also return Brody Sorenson (Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.), an All-NSIC Second Team selection in 2023, and Jake Osowski (R-Sr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who is a combined 16-2 in the last three seasons.

Minnesota Crookston is set to play 10 non-conference games, and 40 NSIC games. The NSIC schedule has been altered for the 2024 season. Minnesota Crookston will play five four-game sets to open the slate, including neutral-site games in Kansas and Florida. The remaining NSIC schedule will look similar to recent seasons, with four three-game sets, and four two-game midweek sets.

The Golden Eagles open their schedule with four games against the University of Colorado-Springs. They play one game in Colorado Springs, Colo., February 9, and a doubleheader February 10, and a one-game finale February 11. The Mountain Lions went 20-30 last season.

Minnesota Crookston opens NSIC play with a four-game series with Wayne State College (Neb.) February 21 in Fort Scott, Kan., at 3 p.m. They will face the Wildcats in a doubleheader commencing at 1 p.m., February 22, and wrap up the series February 23 at 12 p.m. Wayne State went 25-26 last season. The Golden Eagles have won the last four games in the series.

The Golden Eagles then head to Florida for the 2024 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. Minnesota Crookston opens play in the Sunshine State March 1 against Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Eagles won the last meeting between the schools in 2019. The location of the game is to be determined, but will be in Florida.m Embry-Riddle went 25-23 last season.

The Golden Eagles continue play at the RussMatt Invitational March 2 versus Davis & Elkins College. Minnesota Crookston has won both games with the Senators.  Davis & Elkins posted an 8-40 mark in 2023. The Golden Eagles face Ashland University March 3 in Florida. The Eagles went 33-21 in 2023, and went to the NCAA Midwest Regional.

Minnesota Crookston then is set to face the University of Sioux Falls in a four-game NSIC set as part of the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational, at a field to be determined. The Golden Eagles will play the Cougars March 8 at 3 p.m., in one game. The series continues March 9 with a doubleheader at 1 p.m., and wraps up at 12 p.m. March 10. The Golden Eagles won the last game played between the two teams, after a previous three-game win streak for USF. The Cougars went 15-35 in 2023.

The Golden Eagles continue back into their non-conference schedule with three more games in Florida. Minnesota Crookston faces Wayne State University (Mich.) March 12. They went 42-13 in 2023, making it to the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional. Minnesota Crookston last played Wayne State University in 2011, a game won by Wayne State.

The Golden Eagles wrap up their trip to Florida with tilts with Purdue University Northwest. They will play one game March 14, and one game March 15. The Pride went 16-35 in 2023.

Minnesota Crookston returns North following their trip to Florida to get back into their NSIC slate. The Golden Eagles face-off with Concordia University, St. Paul in four games. They will play one game at 3 p.m., March 22, two games beginning at 1 p.m., March 23, and a finale at 12 p.m., March 24 in St. Paul, Minn. Minnesota Crookston swept the Golden Bears last season. Concordia, St. Paul posted a 17-28 mark in 2023.

The Golden Eagles are set for their home debut with a four-game series versus Augustana University. Minnesota Crookston will play one against the Vikings March 28 at 3 p.m., two commencing at 1 p.m. March 29, and a final tilt March 30 at 12 p.m. The Vikings have an eight-game winning streak in the series. They posted a 47-21 mark in 2023, making it to the 2023 NCAA Division II Baseball Championship in Cary, N.C.

Minnesota Crookston will play a final four-game set on the road in Winona, Minn., versus Winona State University with one game April 5, two April 6, and a finale April 7. Minnesota Crookston is 4-1 in their last five games with the Warriors. Winona State went 23-29 in 2023.

The Golden Eagles are set for their first mid-week series at Minot State University Wednesday, April 10 at 1 and 3 p.m., in Minot, N.D. Minnesota Crookston is 5-1 in their last six games versus the Beavers. Minot State posted a 29-19 mark in 2023.

Minnesota Crookston will play a three-game slate with Southwest Minnesota State University April 13 and 14 in Crookston, Minn. The doubleheader will occur April 13 at 1 and 3 p.m., and a finale April 14 at 12 p.m. Minnesota Crookston is 4-1 in their last five games with the Mustangs. SMSU went 27-17 last season.

The Golden Eagles are set for a two-game set Wednesday, April 17 versus Bemidji State University at 1 and 3 p.m. Minnesota Crookston has won the last 17 games in the series. The Beavers went 2-46 in 2023.

Minnesota Crookston hits the road for three games with Minnesota State University April 20 (two games), and April 21 (one game) in Mankato, Minn. The Golden Eagles went 2-2 against the Mavericks last season. Minnesota State went 43-18 last season, making it to the NCAA Super Regional. 

The Golden Eagles play a doubleheader against St. Cloud State University April 24 at 1 and 3 p.m. Minnesota Crookston has won two-straight games. The Huskies posted a 33-20 mark in 2023.

The Golden Eagles play a three-game set at home Saturday, April 27 (two games), and Sunday, April 28 against the University of Minnesota Duluth. Minnesota Crookston has the edge 3-1 in the last four games. UMD posted a 19-28 mark last season.

Minnesota Crookston plays their final two-game set April 30 at 1 and 3 p.m., in Crookston, against the University of Mary. The Marauders went 23-27 in 2023. Minnesota Crookston is 2-1 in their last three games with UMary.

The Golden Eagles end the regular season with three games in Aberdeen, S.D., May 3 (two games), and May 4 (one game). The Golden Eagles have won the last eight games in the series. The Wolves posted an 11-31 mark last season.

The 2024 NSIC Tournament will take place May 8-11 in Mandan, N.D., and Bismarck, N.D., for the second-straight season. The Golden Eagles have made five NSIC Tournament appearances since 2016.