WAIPAHU, Hawai'i – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team wrapped up their trip to the Aloha State with a 10-3 loss Sunday, February 12 to Hawai'i Pacific University at Central Oahu Regional Park. The game had rain delays and went past 10 p.m. in Hawai'i and 2 a.m. in Minnesota.
The Golden Eagles dropped to 1-3 after losing the second game of the doubleheader. The Sharks improved to 3-1.
Conner Richardson (R-Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started the game and went 2.2 innings, allowing eight runs on five hits. He struck out five and walked four.
Nate Grafsgaard (Jr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) had a strong debut out of the bullpen. He tossed 2.1 innings of shutout baseball, allowing just two hits.
Max Weber (So., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) went one inning, allowing just one run on one hit.
The win for the Sharks went to Travis Johnson, who went three innings and allowed no runs on two hits.
At the plate, the Golden Eagles were led by
Chris Bollefer (Jr., C, Centennial, Colo.), who was 1-of-1 with a two run home run.
Paxton Nelson (Sr., IF, Spicer, Minn.) finished 1-of-3 with a run scored.
Kobe Senn (R-Fr., IF, Fargo, N.D.) finished 1-of-1 with a run scored.
Zeke Hass (Sr., OF, Eaton, Colo.) finished 1-of-1.
Ben Goelz (Jr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) was 1-of-4 with an RBI.
The Sharks broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the second when Daniel Johnson singled to drive in Frankie Peralez to make it 1-0. In the next at-bat, Noah Hata scored after a throw on a failed pick attempt went awry.
Hawai'i Pacific padded their lead with seven runs in the bottom of the third. The Sharks were led by a Nicholas Jai two RBI single to drive in Daniel Johnson and Hata.
The Sharks extended their advantage to 10-0 in the bottom of the sixth when Cole Kashimoto scored on a wild pitch.
Minnesota Crookston got some runs back in the top of the seventh as some of their pinch-hit bats stepped up in a big way. With one out, Bollefer delivered one over the left field fence for his first home run as a Golden Eagle, driving in himself and Senn. Later in the frame, Goelz singled, plating Nelson to trim the deficit to 10-3. However, it wouldn't be enough as the Sharks secured the final out to win 10-3.
Minnesota Crookston will return to play Friday, February 24 against the University of Missouri-St. Louis, coached by former Minot State University Head Coach Scott Eul.
