AUBURNDALE, Fla. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team had a great night at the plate, as they crushed Davis & Elkins College 16-2 Sunday, March 6 in Auburndale, Fla.
The Golden Eagles improved to 2-0 at the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. They boast a 5-5 mark during the 2023 season. The Senators dropped to 0-5.
Minnesota Crookston scored 16 runs on 15 hits. They were aided by
Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), who went 4-of-6, with three RBIs, and three runs scored. On the mound,
Alex Koep (Jr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) put forth another quality start and moved to 2-0 on the season. He went four innings, allowing no earned runs, on one hit. Koep struck out eight and walked two.
In addition to Hjelle,
Christian Norby (Jr., OF, Ashby, Minn.) went 4-of-6, with three runs scored, and three RBIs. Norby smashed his first home run as a Golden Eagle.
Danny Wensloff (Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) went 2-of-5, with three RBIs, and two runs scored.
Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.) walked four times, and scored three runs.
Teddy Giefer (Jr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) was 2-of-4, with a run scored.
Minnesota Crookston also got strong outings from their bullpen.
Tad Scherbenske (R-So., RHP, Rapid City, S.D.) went 1.1 innings, allowing just one run, on one hit.
Jackson Schneider (R-Sr., RHP, Forest Lake, Minn.) went 1.2 innings, allowing no runs, on one hit. Schneider struck out three and walked one.
The loss for the Senators went to Jake Garrett, who allowed two earned runs, and six unearned runs. He went 2.2 innings. Garrett struck out three and walked three.
Minnesota Crookston jumped on the scoreboard early. In the top of the first,
Josh Dykhoff (Fr., 1B/RHP, Wadena, Minn.) walked with the bases loaded, bringing in
Danny Wensloff to score. Hallquist then crossed the bag on a
Sawyer Satrom (R-Fr., IF, Portland, N.D.) sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 2-0.
The Golden Eagles pushed the advantage to 4-0 in the top of the second when Hallquist reached on an error, bringing home
Mitch Goodwin (Jr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.), and Giefer.
Josh Dykhoff then singled to right field, driving in Hallquist to extend the lead to 5-0.
Davis & Elkins got a run in the bottom of the second when Gavin Hartman singled in Aydin Zimmerman.
UMN Crookston responded in the third.
Ben Goelz (Jr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) reached on an error, bringing in Norby.
Danny Wensloff then singled to center field, bringing around Goelz to extend the advantage to 7-1. Minnesota Crookston pushed their lead to 8-1 when Hjelle singled, plating
Danny Wensloff.
The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 9-1 in the fourth with Norby's first home run as a Golden Eagles.
UMN Crookston added on with a big sixth inning. Hjelle delivered a two RBI double, bringing in Hallquist, and Goelz. The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 13-1 when Norby sent one to right field, plating Hjelle, and
Kobe Senn (R-Fr., IF, Fargo, N.D.). Norby came to the dish on a passed ball to make it 14-1.
Minnesota Crookston picked up their final run of an offensive showcase when
Danny Wensloff singled to right field, driving in Goodwin, and
Conner Fonger (R-Jr., OF, Superior, Wis.) to extend the lead to 16-1.
The Senators picked up a run in the bottom of the sixth when Cort Kegley scored on a Zimmerman groundout to cut the gap to 16-2, however it would not be enough.
The Golden Eagles will play the Senators in a second game Monday, March 6 at 12 p.m. C.T. at the Lake Myrtle Complex in Auburndale, Fla.
