MARSHALL, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team ended the regular season with an 11-6 victory over Southwest Minnesota State University Saturday, May 6 at Legion Field in Marshall, Minn.

The Golden Eagles were lifted by home runs from Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), his 22nd, and Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.), his 19th. Hjelle is one home run away from tying the NSIC record for home runs in a season set by Minnesota Duluth's Alex Wojciechowski's mark of 23 set in 2016. Hjelle already has the school record for career home runs and home runs in a season. He also has the NSIC record for RBI and total bases in a season. Hallquist has the NSIC record for runs scored in a season and walks. In addition, Jake Dykhoff (R-Sr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) set the records this season for strikeouts and innings pitched. 

Minnesota Crookston concludes the NSIC regular-season with a program-best mark of 36-18 (26-10 NSIC). The Golden Eagles will make their fifth NSIC Tournament appearance since 2016, this time as the No. 3 seed, their highest finish ever. Southwest Minnesota State dropped to 27-15 (19-13 NSIC). The Mustangs make the NSIC Tournament as the No. 5 seed.

On the mound, Max Weber (So., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) picked up his first career win. He tossed 1.2 innings, allowing no earned runs on three hits. Weber struck out four and walked one. Brody Sorenson (Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started the game and went two innings, allowing no runs on one hit. Jakob Wiirre (Sr., RHP, Mims, Fla.) pitched two scoreless innings. Tad Scherbenske (Jr., RHP, Rapid City, S.D.) allowed two runs in 0.1 innings. Isaac Wensloff (Fr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) pitched a scoreless inning, while Josh Dykhoff (Fr., RHP/1B, Wadena, Minn.) pitched two scoreless innings.

The loss went to Kobe Lovell, who allowed five runs on four hits.

Hallquist went 2-of-5, with two RBIs and two runs scored. Hjelle was 2-of-3, with two RBIs and two runs scored. Caden Headlee (Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) was 2-of-4, with an RBI and two runs scored. Ben Goelz (Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) was 2-of-4, with one RBI and one run scored. Sawyer Satrom (R-Fr., IF, Portland, N.D.) went 2-of-4, with an RBI and a run scored. Matt Nunn (Sr., C, Edina, Minn.) went 2-of-3, with two RBIs.

The Golden Eagles got out to a fast start in the first with Hjelle's 22nd home run of the season, bringing in him and Josh Dykhoff.

In the second stanza, Nunn utilized a two RBI single to score Satrom, and Goelz.

In the third inning, Hallquist put a solo shot over the fence to make it 5-0.

Southwest Minnesota State trimmed the deficit to 5-1 when Caleb Gardow scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The Mustangs cut into the lead 5-2 when Jaxon Haase's single brought in Robbie Smith.

Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 6-2 in the sixth with a Satrom single, scoring Headlee.

The Golden Eagles got into trouble in the bottom of the sixth as Southwest Minnesota State knotted the game up. An Isaac Nett single and an error scored Max Kalenberg and Jake Tauer to cut the deficit to 6-4. The Mustangs tied it up 6-6 when Nett scored on a McDaniel single, and Smith came in on an error.

Minnesota Crookston responded in a big way in the seventh. The Golden Eagles plated five runs. Hallquist started it out with a double to bring in Mitch Goodwin (Jr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.). Josh Dykhoff then used a sacrifice fly to score Danny Wensloff (Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.). Hallquist came in on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 9-6. Headlee then used a double to plate Hjelle. The scoring culminated with a Goelz single to score Headlee to make it 11-6.

Southwest Minnesota State was unable to make up the margin as UMN Crookston won 11-6.

Minnesota Crookston will open the NSIC Tournament Wednesday, May 10 at 6 p.m., against Minot State University at Municipal Ballpark Dakota Community Bank & Trust Field in Bismarck, N.D. The winner advances to play the winner of Minnesota State University and Winona State University Thursday, May 11 at 3:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Ballpark at BNC Field in Mandan, N.D. The loser of the two games will meet in an elimination game Thursday, May 11 at 12 p.m., at Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck, N.D. The eight teams to make the tournament are: Augustana (1), Minnesota State (2), Minnesota Crookston (3), St. Cloud State (4), Southwest Minnesota State (5), Minot State (6), Winona State (7), and Wayne State (8).