BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team ended a historic regular season with four players earning Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) specialty awards, as announced by the conference office Tuesday, May 9. Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) was named NSIC Player of the Year, joining his brother Reed Hjelle as the only brothers in NSIC history to earn the accolade. Alex Koep (Sr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) became the first Golden Eagle in program history to earn NSIC Pitcher of the Year. Mike Hallquist (Jr., 3B, Fargo, N.D.) was named NSIC Newcomer of the Year, the first Golden Eagle to earn the honor, while Josh Dykhoff (Fr., RHP/1B, Wadena, Minn.) was selected as the NSIC Freshman of the Year, joining Jake Poehler (2008) as Golden Eagles with the distinguished honor.

With four specialty awards, the Golden Eagles join Minnesota State University (2019), St. Cloud State University (2015), and Minnesota State (2011) as teams with the most honorees in a single season.

NSIC PLAYER OF THE YEAR
#8 Jake Hjelle (R-Jr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn./East Grand Forks HS)
Minnesota Crookston
- Hit .447 in conference play, with a 1.521 OPS, and a 1.024 slugging percentage
- Scored 39 runs in conference, with 11 doubles, three triples, 18 home runs, and 57 RBI
- Stole 10 bases on 11 attempts in NSIC play
- Finished the regular season hitting .403 overall, with a 1.343 OPS, and a .874 slugging percentage
- Set the school record with 22 home runs, which leads the NSIC, and 77 RBI, which also leads the NSIC.
- Named NSIC Player of the Week twice during season
- Had a three home run, seven RBI game against Southwest Minnesota State May 5
- Is tied for third in the country for home runs, is sixth in the country for slugging percentage, and is second in RBI
- Joins his brother Reed Hjelle (2018) as the first set of brothers to win NSIC Player of the Year accolades

NSIC PITCHER OF THE YEAR
#3 Alex Koep (Sr., LHP, Parkers Prairie, Minn./Parkers Prairie HS)
Minnesota Crookston
- Went 4-1 in conference play, with a 3.62 ERA in 37.1 innings pitched
- Opponents hit just .180 against him in conference play
- Finished with 46 strikeouts and 24 walks in NSIC action
- Had three one hitters on the season (Hawaii Pacific, Davis & Elkins, and Bemidji State)
- Notched 11 strikeouts and no walks against Notre Dame College
- Tallied nine strikeouts apiece versus Missouri-St. Louis and Northern State
- On the season, he was 7-1 with a 2.53 ERA in 57 innings pitched
- He notched 75 strikeouts and 29 walks
- Opponents this season hit just .169 against him
- Is the first Golden Eagle in program history to be named NSIC Pitcher of the Year

NSIC NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR
#13 Mike Hallquist (3B, Jr.,  Fargo, N.D. / Fargo North HS / Bismarck State College)
Minnesota Crookston
- Transferred to Minnesota Crookston from Bismarck State College
- Tied for ninth in the nation for home runs, and is seventh in the country for slugging percentage
- In NSIC play, he hit .352, with 44 runs scored, nine doubles, two triples, 14 home runs, and 38 RBI
- Posted a 1.274 OPS, an .803 slugging percentage, and a .471 on-base percentage in NSIC games
- Led the NSIC in OPS, and runs scored
- This season, he hit .403, with a 1.386 OPS, an .867 slugging percentage, and a .519 on-base percentage
- Scored a team-high 66 runs, with 19 doubles, four triples, 19 home runs, and 61 RBI
- Led the team with 39 walks
- Is the first Golden Eagle in program history to be named NSIC Newcomer of the Year

NSIC FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR 
#32 Josh Dykhoff (RHP/1B, Fr., Wadena, Minn. / Wadena-Deer Creek HS)
Minnesota Crookston
- Earned NSIC Player of the Week honors, alongside his brother Jake Dykhoff (Pitcher of the Week)
- In NSIC play, hit .357, with 45 runs scored, 12 doubles, 13 home runs, and 36 RBI
- Posted a 1.220 OPS, and a .762 slugging percentage in NSIC play
- Finished the regular-season hitting .339, with 53 runs scored, 14 doubles, 14 home runs, and 48 RBI
- Posted a regular-season OPS of 1.125 and a slugging percentage of .673, with a .452 on-base percentage
- Joins Jake Poehler (2008) as Golden Eagles to be named NSIC Freshman of the Year
- Posted a 6.50 ERA in 36 innings pitched with a 3-2 record
- Struck out 27 and walked just nine
- Started seven games and made 11 total appearances

In addition to the specialty awards, Hjelle, Hallquist, Jake Dykhoff (R-Sr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.), and Koep were all named All-NSIC First Team. Brody Sorenson (Jr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.), and Josh Dykhoff were selected All-NSIC Second Team.

Jake Dykhoff went 7-4 with a 4.29 ERA in 71.1 innings pitched. He led the NSIC with 93 strikeouts. He walked just 18 batters. Opponents hit just .230 against Jake Dykhoff. He was an All-NSIC Second Team selection in 2021.

Sorenson posted a 4-2 mark and a 1.74 ERA in 41.1 innings pitched. He struck out 28 and walked just nine. Opponents hit just .237 against Sorenson.

The Golden Eagles had their most honorees in program history. The previous high for members on the All-NSIC First Team was two (2021, 2018). The Golden Eagles have never had more than one honoree earn specialty awards from the NSIC. Jake Hjelle, Koep, Josh Dykhoff, Hallquist, and Sorenson are all first-time honorees for the Golden Eagles.

Minnesota Crookston begins action at the NSIC Tournament Wednesday, May 10 at 6 p.m., against Minot State University.