Elkhorn, Neb. – After playing 18 games in three different states; Hawaii, Missouri and Florida, Minnesota Crookston baseball will play baseball in a fourth on Saturday, Nebraska, but this time, it will be in NSIC play. The Golden Eagles will head to Nebraska for a three-game series on the road at Wayne State College. The Golden Eagles and Wildcats will play a doubleheader in Elkhorn, Neb. on Sunday and close out the series on Monday with one game.
Minnesota Crookston has won seven out of the last nine games between the two teams, but Wayne State won the lone meeting last season, 2-1, in Crookston.
How to Follow
Sunday, March 19
Minnesota Crookston @ Wayne State College
1 P.M. / 3 P.M.
Elkhorn, Neb. / Frerichs Legion Park
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/wscwildcats/
Live Stats -- https://wscwildcats.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Monday, March 20
Minnesota Crookston @ Wayne State College
12 P.M.
Elkhorn, Neb. / Frerichs Legion Park
Watch Live -- https://nsicnetwork.com/wscwildcats/
Live Stats -- https://wscwildcats.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Minnesota Crookston (10-8)
The Golden Eagles closed out their Florida trip almost exactly how they ended it. The maroon and gold won their first three games in the Sunshine State by an average of eight runs. They then lost three in a row, but wrapped it up by winning their final four games in Florida. The Golden Eagles will now enter NSIC play two games over .500.
What a find
Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.) has been for the maroon and gold. Hallquist is hitting .508 on the season and has an OPS of over 1.500. Hallquist also has five home runs and 23 runs knocked in, with 10 doubles. Hallquist has also scored a team-high 22 runs. The junior leads the NSIC in OPS, runs scored, hits, doubles, RBI, walks and is tied for the conference lead in home runs. Nationally, Hallquist is fifth in average, third in on-base percentage and sixth in slugging.
Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), the most experienced hitter for the Golden Eagles has started to put it together offensively, as well. Hjelle is hitting .324 with four long balls and 20 runs knocked in.
Caden Headlee (Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) and
Ben Goelz (Jr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) are also hitting over .300. Newcomers
Danny Wensloff (Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) and
Josh Dykhoff (Fr., 1B/P, Wadena, Minn.) have also been outstanding for the Golden Eagles this season.
On the bump, the Golden Eagles have a top-five pitching staff in the NSIC.
Alex Koep (Jr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) has been unbelievable, pitching his way to a 3-0 record in four appearances and three starts. Koep,
Jake Osowski (R-Jr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) and
Jake Dykhoff (R-Sr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) are all in the top ten in the NSIC in strikeouts on the season. As a team, the Golden Eagles have an ERA of 4.70 on the season.
Wayne State College (6-8)
WSC is 6-8 on the season, but have lost four out of their last five games, all of which came in the great state of Florida.
Offensively, Colin Lynam is having an outstanding season, hitting .392 with five home runs and 21 RBI. Carter Thomas and Quinn McCafferty are also having outstanding years, each having OBP's of over .400. As a team, the Wildcats hit .234, which ranks last in the Northern Sun.
On the bump, WSC has a team ERA of 7.89, but are led by Ryan Obrecht, who has a 1.88 ERA in three appearances and is 3-0. Corbin Kirk leads the staff with 15 strikeouts in four starts.
