DAYTONA BEACH, FLA. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team opened their 11-game road trip in the Sunshine State, with an 8-6 victory over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. The Golden Eagles were propelled by a four-run sixth inning. 

Minnesota Crookston improved to 3-5 (1-3 NSIC) with Friday's win at Sliwa Stadium in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Golden Eagles had lost their previous game with the Eagles 19-4 March 3, 2019. Embry-Riddle split with Minnesota State University earlier this week. The Eagles fell to 8-6 with the defeat.  

Jake Osowski (R-Sr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) picked up a win. He tossed 5.1 innings, allowing five runs, on 10 hits. Osowski struck out four, walking one. Isaac Roers (R-So., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) allowed a run in 0.1 innings. Caden Edwards (R-Jr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) pitched 0.1 innings, allowing no runs. Isaac Wensloff (So., RHP, Roseau, Minn.), Nate Grafsgaard (Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.), and Joey Connelly (So., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) all pitched scoreless innings. Connelly picked up his first career save.

At the plate, the Golden Eagles notched 13 hits. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) went 3-of-5, with a run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF, East Grand Forks, Minn.), the 2023 NCBWA Player of the Year, went 3-of-4, with two runs scored. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) went 2-of-3, with five RBIs. Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.), was 2-of-6, with two runs scored. Ben Goelz (R-Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) was 2-of-5, with an RBI, and a run scored.

Tristan Harley suffered the loss for the Eagles, allowing one earned run in four innings. 

Minnesota Crookston took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first when Giefer walked with the bases loaded, scoring Dykhoff.

Embry-Riddle tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the first when Camden Traficante doubled, driving in Chase Bruno.

The Eagles took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third when Tyler Castelli hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Alex Imposimto.

The Golden Eagles tied the game 2-2 in the top of the fourth when Danny Wensloff (Sr., C/OF, Roseau, Minn.) singled in Mitch Goodwin (R-Sr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.).

Embry-Riddle took the lead back 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Alex Britton singled in Dillon Lifrieri.

Minnesota Crookston broke through with a big inning in the top of the sixth. Headlee reached on an error, allowing Goelz to come around to score and tie the game 3-3. Giefer then delivered a bases-clearing double, scoring Hjelle, Headlee, and Dykhoff to make it 6-3.

The Eagles tied the game 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth. An Imposimato sacrifice fly scored Lifrieri. Matthew Coker then delivered a triple to score Britton. Coker would come around on a wild pitch to make it 6-6.

Minnesota Crookston took a 7-6 advantage when Goelz singled to plate Goodwin.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead in the eighth when Giefer doubled in Hjelle to make it 8-6.

The Eagles got two runners on in the bottom of the ninth as they looked to rally, with a walk, and a hit by pitch. However Connelly got a flyout to preserve the 8-6 win.

Minnesota Crookston continues their excursion in Florida against Davis & Elkins College Saturday, March 2 at 4 p.m. C.T.