FORT SCOTT, Kan. - Kaden Young walked with the bases loaded to drive in Colin Lynam and send Wayne State College to a 9-8 walk-off win over the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team. The Golden Eagles led 7-0 going into the bottom of the sixth, but the Wildcats scored nine runs in the final four frames.
Minnesota Crookston dropped to 2-5 (1-3 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Wayne State improved to 7-1 (7-1 NSIC) with the win. The Wildcats win the series 3-1 at LaRoche Baseball Complex in Fort Scott, Kan.
Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) started the game and went six innings, allowing four runs, on eight hits. Dykhoff struck out eight, and walked two. Caden Edwards (Jr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) allowed three runs, on one hit, and four walks, in 0.2 innings. Joey Connelly (So., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) suffered the loss after allowing two runs, on three hits, in 1.2 innings.
Kolt Davis started the game for the Wildcats. He went three innings, allowing four runs, on six hits. The win for the Wildcats went to Eli Crnkovich in relief. He tossed three innings, allowing one run, on two hits.
Minnesota Crookston notched 14 hits Friday. They looked to five home runs to lead the way. Danny Wensloff (Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) went 2-of-5, with one RBI, and two runs scored, with one home run. Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), a Golden Spikes Award Watch List member, went 4-of-5, with four RBIs, and two runs scored, with two home runs, as he put forth his best offensive effort of the season. Dykhoff gave himself some support on the mound, going 3-of-5, with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) was 2-of-5.
Wayne State had 12 hits, and reached on seven walks. They were paced by Young, who was 3-of-4, with four RBIs.
Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first with a solo shot from Danny Wensloff.
They extended the lead to 4-0 in the third with a three run home run from Hjelle, plating himself, Wensloff, and Dykhoff.
The Golden Eagles pushed the advantage to 6-0 in the fourth, as Dykhoff put one over the fence, scoring himself, and Ben Goelz (R-Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.).
Dykhoff added a second home run in the sixth to push the lead to 7-0.
Wayne State trimmed the lead in the bottom of the sixth. Trey Wells singled in Chase Douglas to cut the deficit to 7-1. Lynam scored on a Tommy Roland fielder's choice to slice the lead to 7-2. A Young triple brought in Roland, and Wells to cut the advantage to 7-4.
The Wildcats knotted the game 7-7 in the seventh. Wells singled to plate Douglas to bring it to 7-5. Braden Cannon was walked with the bases loaded, scoring Lynam to cut the deficit to 7-6. The game was tied when Young singled to score Wells.
Minnesota Crookston took the lead in the top of the ninth when the Preseason NSIC Player of the Year Hjelle knocked over his second home run to put the Golden Eagles ahead 8-7. However, control issues plagued the Golden Eagle pitchers late as Cannon was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, scoring Luke Ruhl to tie the game 8-8. Young walked with the bases juiced to plate Lynam and give the Wildcats the walk-off win 9-8.
Minnesota Crookston begins a two-week stretch in Florida, March 1 at 5 p.m. C.T. against Embry-Riddle University. The game will be played in Davenport, Fla.
