MANDAN, N.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team saw their season come to a close to a 6-5 loss to Augustana University in an elimination game at the 2023 NSIC Tournament at Veterans Memorial Ballpark in Mandan, N.D. The Golden Eagles had their opportunities to overcome the top-seed Vikings, but stranded 16 runners on the base path despite a valiant effort.

The Golden Eagles finish the season with a 38-20 mark, setting records for single-season victories and conference wins. The Golden Eagles made their fifth NSIC Tournament since 2015 and won two games in the tournament with victories over Minot State University and Wayne State College. Augustana continues their season, improving to 42-17. They will play Minnesota State University in an elimination game Saturday, May 13.

Minnesota Crookston had 13 hits in the game. The Golden Eagles were guided by Caden Headlee (Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.), who went 2-of-5, with two RBIs. Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.) went 2-of-4, with two runs scored. Sawyer Satrom (R-Fr., IF, Portland, N.D.) was 2-of-4, while Mitch Goodwin (Jr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with a run scored.

Matt Nelson (R-Sr., RHP, Afton, Minn.) started the game and went 1.1 innings, allowing four runs on two hits. Nelson walked four. Brody Sorenson (Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) had a strong outing in relief, but was handed the loss. He allowed two runs on six hits in 4.2 innings. He struck out two. Conner Richardson (R-Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) tossed two scoreless innings, allowing one hit.

The win went to Adam Diedrich, who pitched 3.1 scoreless innings. 

Minnesota Crookston got one base-runner in the top of the first with a single from Josh Dykhoff (Fr., RHP/1B, Wadena, Minn.), but Ashton Michek worked out of it to keep the score 0-0.

Augustana put together back-to-back hits from Nick Banowetz and Parker Mooney after securing the first out. The Vikings loaded the bases as Nelson walked Drey Dirksen. The Golden Eagles got Hines to fly out to Center Field, but the sacrifice fly scored Banowetz to give the Vikings a 1-0 advantage. Nelson got Luke Ballweg to ground out to second base to get out of any further danger.

Headlee led off the top of the second with a double that landed on the right field corner. The Vikings picked Headlee off second base to get the out. Goelz reached on a single to center field to keep the inning alive. With two outs, Goodwin walked to give Minnesota Crookston two baserunners. Nunn singled to drive in Goelz to knot the game 1-1 with two outs. Aidan ToAiMichek struck out Danny Wensloff looking to keep the score 1-1.

With one out, Nelson walked Augustana batters Tate Meiners and Sam Seigel. The two advanced on a ball in the dirt. He walked Trevor Winterstein to load up the bags. Brody Sorenson came on in relief to try to get UMN Crookston out of the predicament. Sorenson got Banowetz to fly out to drive in Meiners to give the Vikings a 2-1 lead. The Vikings added to their lead with a three-run shot from Mooney, driving in Seigel, and Winterstein to widen the gap to 5-1. Augustana kept the inning alive with a Dirksen base-knock. Hallquist made a great play at third to get the final out as Sorenson stopped the rally.

Hallquist led off the top of the third with a double off the wall in left. Michek struck out Josh Dykhoff to get the first out of the inning. Hjelle singled to give Minnesota Crookston runners on first and third with an out. Hallquist scored on a groundout from Headlee to cut the deficit to 5-2. Michek hit Goelz to give UMN Crookston runners on first and second with a pair of outs. Michek got Satrom to fly out in foul territory to keep the score 5-2.

The Vikings opened up the bottom of the third with a double from Ballweg. Sorenson got three-straight groundouts to get out of the threat. 

Goodwin opened the bottom of the fourth with a base rip to center field. Michek got the first out of the frame by striking out Nunn. Danny Wensloff reached on an error by Mooney at second base to give Minnesota Crookston two runners. Michek walked Hallquist to put three ducks on the pond. Josh Dykhoff walked with the bases loaded, driving in Goodwin to cut the deficit to 5-3. Michek struck out Hjelle as he got him to chase on a curveball. Winterstein made a diving catch on center to get Headlee out to get out of the stanza.

With two out, Mooney doubled down the line to give the Vikings a baserunner. Sorenson got Dirksen to fly out to center field as they remained down 5-3.

With a full count, Satrom got on with a base knock with one out in the top of the fifth for Minnesota Crookston. Goodwin singled to left center to put runners on first and second for the Golden Eagles. Nunn struck out looking to put two out on the scoreboard. Michek got Danny Wensloff to fly out to get out of the inning.

Aidan Torpey came on in relief of Michek in top of the sixth. He hit Hallquist to open the frame. Josh Dykhoff reached on a fielder's choice after nobody was on second base for an attempted double play. Augustana got Hjelle to fly out for the first out of the stint. A passed ball moved the runners for the Golden Eagles. Headlee hit an infield single to plate Hallquist to trim the Viking lead to 5-4. Torpey got Goelz to ground out, but not without driving in Josh Dykhott to tie the tilt 5-5. Headlee moved to third on the balk. He walked Satrom to put runners on the corners with two outs. Adam Diedrich came on to try to get Augustana out of the frame. Diedrich came into the game with 12 saves. Diedrich struck out Goodwin to get out of the inning.

Tate Meiners drove one out of the park to give the Vikings a 6-5 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Seigel reached on a single to keep the inning alive. Sorenson got a pair of fly outs, including a shoestring grab from Josh Dykhoff in foul territory. Jason Axelberg pinch ran and stole the base for the Vikings. The UMN Crookston junior got the groundout to Goodwin to get out of the frame.

Danny Wensloff got a base knock with one out in the top of the seventh. Diedrich got the out on a comebacker to the pitcher, but Wensloff moved to second. He walked Josh Dykhoff to put runners on first and second with two out. Diedrich struck out Hjelle to get out of the inning, with two more runners stranded.

Conner Richardson came on to pitch for Minnesota Crookston. He allowed a Hines double, but got out of any trouble to keep the tally at 6-5.

Satrom reached on a broken bat blooper to center with two outs. Diedrich struck out Goodwin to get out of the stanza.

Richardson retired Augustana in order to get to the ninth with the Golden Eagles down one run.

Diedrich struck out Nunn and got Danny Wensloff to ground out to second. The Golden Eagles came down to their final out in the form of NSIC Newcomer of the Year Hallquist. The junior kept Minnesota Crookston alive with a single past the third baseman. Diedrich got Josh Dykhoff to fly out. 

The game was the final one for 14 seniors for Minnesota Crookston, who put together terrific careers for the Golden Eagles.