COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Minnesota Crookston opened the season with a pair of narrow losses to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Thursday, February 8 at Mountain Lion Park in Colorado Springs, Colo.
The University of Minnesota Crookston dropped to 0-2 with the losses, while the Mountain Lions improved to 2-3.
Game One
The Mountain Lions overcame a 10-3 deficit in the bottom of the fifth to defeat the Golden Eagles 15-12. UC Colorado Springs were lifted by a seven-run bottom of the fifth to pick up the victory in the first game.
Jake Osowski (R-Sr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) got the ball in the season debut for Minnesota Crookston. The reliable senior went 4.1 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits. Osowski struck out four, and walked two.
The Golden Eagles got experience from several relievers in the first game. Isaac Roers (R-So., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) allowed four earned runs on four hits in one inning. Tad Scherbenske (Sr., RHP, Rapid City, S.D.) came in and got two outs, allowing just one hit to three batters faced. Derek Lindow (R-So., LHP, Nevis, Minn.) allowed two runs on three hits in two innings of work.
Vander Hodges started for UC Colorado Springs and went three innings, allowing two runs on five hits. He struck out one, and walked two. Jordan Brown got the win in relief, tossing one inning and allowing an unearned run on one hit. Joe McDermott got the three-inning save, with one run on two hits.
Minnesota Crookston finished with 14 hits, including home runs from Ben Goelz (R-Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.), Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/1B, Wadena, Minn.), and Kodi Miller (Jr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.). Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) led the U of M Crookston going 4-of-5, with four RBIs and a run scored. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) finished 2-of-4, with an RBI and three runs scored. Goelz went 2-of-4, with an RBI and a run scored. Dykhoff, the reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year, was 2-of-5, with three RBIs, and two runs scored. Reigning NCBWA Player of the Year Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-4, with an RBI and a run scored.
The Mountain Lions had 15 hits, including home runs from Hayden Iverson, and Alec Goemz. Iverson went 4-of-6 from his leadoff spot, with three RBIs, and two runs scored. Aaron Jenkins was 4-of-5, with three RBIs, and a run scored.
Minnesota Crookston's season started off in fine fashion as Goelz led off the top of the first with a home run. Later in the inning, Giefer doubled in Headlee, and Sawyer Satrom (R-So., IF, Portland, Minn.) singled in Giefer to give the Golden Eagles an early 3-0 advantage.
The Mountain Lions trimmed the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the first with a two-run shot from Gomez, driving in himself, and Evan Steinberger.
The Golden Eagles pushed their lead to 4-2 in the top of the third when Giefer doubled in Dykhoff.
Minnesota Crookston put together a four-run fourth propelled by an RBI double from Headlee to plate Hjelle. The Golden Eagles led 8-2 going into the bottom of the fourth.
A Jenkins single to drive in Kit Wiginton cut the Minnesota Crookston advantage to 8-3 heading into the top of the fifth.
Minnesota Crookston answered with a two-run home run from Dykhoff, scoring himself, and Goelz to put the Golden Eagles ahead 10-3.
UC Colorado Springs countered with a huge bottom of the fifth catapulted by two runs scored on a Ronan Hella error, and a two RBI triple from Iverson to knot the score 10-10.
Minnesota Crookston took the lead back 11-10 in the sixth with a Giefer double down the line, plating Headlee. The Mountain Lions had the answer lifted by a Caleb Chance two RBI double, scoring Wiginton, and Gomez. UC Colorado Springs led 13-11 going into the seventh.
The Golden Eagles were able to trim the deficit to 15-12 on a Miller home run in the ninth, but it would not be enough to comeback, as the Mountain Lions picked up the victory.
Game Two
The Mountain Lions scored three runs in the bottom of the first and didn't look back in a 7-5 win in the second game of the doubleheader. UC Colorado Springs was lifted by home runs from Wiginton and Steinberger.
Nate Benning (Fr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) made his first career start Thursday for the Golden Eagles, tossing 3.2 innings. Benning allowed four earned runs on six hits in 3.2 innings. Benning struck out two, and walked four. Owen Swanson (Fr-., RHP, Santa Clara, Calif.) made his first career appearance, throwing 2.1 innings. Swanson allowed two runs on three hits.
The win for the Mountain Lions went to Cole Phillip, who tossed four innings, allowing three runs on five hits. Hunter Owens threw a scoreless 1.2 innings, while Matthew Gonzales pitched 1.1 innings.
The Golden Eagles picked up a home run from Mitch Goodwin (R-Sr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.). Goodwin went 2-of-2, with three RBIs, and one run scored. Hjelle went 2-of-4, with a run scored. Headlee was 2-of-4, with two RBIs.
The Mountain Lions picked up nine hits for the game. Wiginton went 2-of-2, with one RBI and two runs scored. Chance went 2-of-2, with two RBIs and one run scored. Jenkins was 2-of-3, with one run scored. Hella was 2-of-3, with two RBIs.
UC Colorado Springs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first. They opened their scoring when Steinberger scored on a passed ball. Chance capitalized later in the frame with a two RBI single, plating Gomez, and Wiginton.
Minnesota Crookston got a run back in the second when Goodwin doubled in Satrom.
The Mountain Lions extended their advantage to 4-1 in the third with a solo shot from Wiginton.
The Golden Eagles made a dent in the lead in the fourth with a two-run home run from Goodwin, bringing in himself, and Miller.
UC Colorado Springs pushed their lead to 5-3 with a solo shot from Steinberger in the fourth. They extended their lead to 7-3 with a two RBI single from Hella, driving in Jenkins, and Chance.
Minnesota Crookston made a last ditch effort in the top of the seventh. Headlee used an infield single to bring in Hjelle, and Goelz to trim the deficit to 7-5. However, the Mountain Lions got a key double play to get out of the inning and the game with a 7-5 win.
Minnesota Crookston and UC Colorado Springs wrap up their series with a doubleheader at 12 and 3 p.m., in Colorado Springs, Colo.
