CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a pair of wins in pitcher's duals Monday, April 24 over Northern State University. The Golden Eagles got strong pitching performances from Jake Dykhoff (R-Sr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.), Jake Osowski (R-Jr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.), and Conner Richardson (R-Sr., RHP Grand Forks, N.D.). In the second game, UMN Crookston picked up a 2-1 win in the first game guided by a home run from Josh Dykhoff (Fr., 1B/RHP, Wadena, Minn.). In the second game, Mitch Goodwin (Jr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.) hit a walk-off double to give the Golden Eagles their program-record 29^th victory.

UMN Crookston improved to 29-15 (19-7 NSIC) with the Monday sweep. The Golden Eagles remain in third place in the NSIC standings. Minnesota Crookston is two wins away from their program-record for conference wins, previously set in 2019. The Golden Eagles are also one win away from their 30^th win. Minnesota Crookston has never eclipsed 30 or more wins. Northern State dropped to 10-23 (5-17 NSIC) with the losses.

Game One
The Golden Eagles picked up a 2-1 victory in the first tilt propelled by Jake Dykhoff, who tossed his fourth complete game of the season. Jake Dykhoff allowed one run on two hits. He struck out 12 and walked two. Dykhoff has achieved 10 or more strikeouts three times this season. Dykhoff pitched an immaculate inning in the top of the second, striking out the side on nine pitches. It marked the second-straight day a Golden Eagle pitcher had achieved the accomplishment, as he joined Alex Koep (Sr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.).

Jake Dykhoff went head-to-head with Michael Chevalier of Northern State, who went five innings. Chevalier allowed two runs on three hits. Chevalier struck out five and walked four. Cooper Tessendorf pitched a scoreless sixth inning.

The Golden Eagles were limited to just three hits in the first game. Josh Dykhoff went 1-of-3, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was 1-of-3, while Caden Headlee (Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) was 1-of-2.

Northern State took a 1-0 lead in the first when Reece Ragatz doubled to right field, plating Karson Hesser.

The Wolves held the 1-0 advantage until the fifth when Josh Dykhoff put a ball over the right field fence, plating him, and Matt Nunn (Sr., C, Edina, Minn.).

Jake Dykhoff preserved the win by striking out the side in the top of the seventh as Minnesota Crookston won 2-1.

Game Two  
Goodwin's walk-off double to right field that fell next to a diving Connor Knecht, who made a valiant effort to make the play, delivered the 3-2 victory in the bottom of the ninth for the Golden Eagles.

The story of the game was the pitching of Osowski and Max Otto. Osowski commanded the strike zone throughout his start, going 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on six hits. He struck out eight and walked nobody. Otto gave the Wolves everything he had in the effort, going 8.2 innings. Otto allowed three runs on seven hits. Otto struck out nine and walked two.

Conner Richardson (R-Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) got the win in game two. He went 2.2 innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Richardson struck out three and walked one.

Minnesota Crookston was lifted by Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.), who went 1-of-4, with two RBIs and a run scored. Headlee went 1-of-4, with one run scored. Josh Dykhoff was 1-of-4, with one run scored. Goodwin went 1-of-4, with an RBI.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third when Hallquist hit his league-leading 16^th home run, plating him, and Josh Dykhoff.

Northern State came back in the seventh. Knecht doubled to drive in Kai Brisk to trim the lead to 2-1. A Jordan DeMarce sacrifice fly plated Jackson Meyer to knot the game 2-2.
The score remained at 2-2 until the bottom of the ninth when Goodwin drove in Headlee for the walk-off victory.

The Golden Eagles remain at home to face Minot State University Wednesday, April 26 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., in Crookston, Minn.