CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team is set for four games to wrap up their Sunshine State trip at the 2024 RussMatt Central Florida Invitational.
The Golden Eagles will play Wayne State University Tuesday, March 12 at NorthEast Regional Park Field 4 in Davenport, Fla., at 3 p.m. C.T. Minnesota Crookston will face The New College of Florida Wednesday, March 13 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., at 1 p.m. C.T. Minnesota Crookston will round out their Florida trip with a pair of games with Purdue University Northwest. They will face the Pride Thursday, March 14 at 8:15 a.m. C.T., at Lake Myrtle Park Field 6. They will round out the trip Friday, March 15 at 8 a.m. C.T., at Pat Thomas Stadium in Leesburg, Fla.
Minnesota Crookston Projected Starters
Sr. C/RF 19 Danny Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .234, 8 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 8 RBI
Or Jr. C 29 Kodi Miller, Grand Rapids, Minn., .240, 6 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI
Sr. 1B 18 Teddy Giefer, Courtland, Minn., .447, 10 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 21 RBI
R-So. 2B 20 Kobe Senn, Fargo, N.D., .167, 3 R, 1 RBI
Or Fr. 2B 1 Caden Kappes, Wahpeton, N.D., .000, 2 R
R-So. 3B 2 Sawyer Satrom, Portland, N.D., .287, 8 R, 1 2B, 7 RBI
R-Sr. SS 10 Mitch Goodwin, Prior Lake, Minn., .256, 11 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI
R-Sr. LF 8 Jake Hjelle, East Grand Forks, Minn., .328, 14 R, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 10 RBI
R-Jr. CF 9 Caden Headlee, Fargo, N.D., .458, 15 R, 5 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBI
R-Sr. RF 23 Ben Goelz, Maple Lake, Minn., .276, 7 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 6 RBI
So. DH 32 Josh Dykhoff, Wadena, Minn., .300, 17 R, 4 2B, 4 HR, 13 RBI
Top Pitchers
Fr. LHP 41 Nate Benning, Browerville, Minn., 2-1 3.78 ERA, 16.2 IP, 12 K, 13 BB
Sr. RHP 7 Brody Sorenson, Grand Forks, N.D., 1-1 4.09 ERA, 22.0 IP, 29 K, 4 BB
R-Sr. RHP 24 Jake Osowski, East Grand Forks, Minn., 2-0 5.96 ERA, 19.2 IP, 15 K, 8 BB
So. RHP 32 Josh Dykhoff, Wadena, Minn., 1-1 6.14 ERA, 22.0 IP, 21 K, 9 BB
Sr. RHP 25 Nate Grafsgaard, Devils Lake, N.D., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2.2 IP, 4 K, 5 BB
Jr. RHP 13 Jacob Mathiason, Rockford, Minn., 0-0 4.15 ERA, 4.1 IP, 4 K, 2 BB
Fr. RHP 34 Carsen Barta, Fargo, N.D., 0-0 5.40 ERA, 1.2 IP, 2 K, 1 BB
Minnesota Crookston enters their final four games in the Sunshine State with a mark of 6-8 (3-5 NSIC). They are coming off a 2-2 series split with the University of Sioux Falls last weekend. The Golden Eagles are hitting .305 coming into this week, with 102 runs, 16 home runs, and 91 RBIs. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) leads the way hitting .458, with 15 runs scored, five doubles, one home run, and 11 RBIs. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) has made a major step as a senior, hitting .447, with 10 runs scored, six doubles, two home runs, and a team-high 21 RBIs. 2023 NCBWA National Player of the Year Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.), is swinging .328, with 14 runs scored, two home runs, and 10 RBIs. 2023 NSIC Freshman of the Year Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) is batting .300, with 17 runs scored, four home runs, and 13 RBIs.
On the mound, lefty Nate Benning (Fr., Browerville, Minn.) has made an instant impact as a freshman. He is 2-1 with a 3.78 ERA in 16.2 innings of work. Brody Sorenson (Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) has made a seamless transition from the bullpen to the starting rotation. The 2023 All-NSIC Second Team pick is 1-1 with a 4.09 ERA, with 29 strikeouts, and just four walks. Jake Osowski (R-Sr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) comes in with a 2-0 mark and a 5.96 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched. Out of the bullpen, Bemidji State University transfer Jacob Mathiason (Jr., RHP, Rockford, Minn.) has made an instant impact with a 4.15 ERA in 4.1 innings of work.
Wayne State University
The Warriors come into Tuesday's game with a 9-5 mark. Wayne State has lost three-straight games. The Warriors are hitting .293 as a team coming into the week. They are guided by Bennett Hitzelberger, who is hitting .440, with 11 runs scored, six doubles, one home run, and 10 RBIs. Tony Hatzigeorgiou is batting .415, with 14 runs scored, and seven RBIs. Drew Hill is swinging .340, with nine runs scored, one home run, and 10 RBIs.
On the bump, Karter Fitzpatrick is 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA, with 37 strikeouts, and just five walks. Griffin Kilander is 3-0 with a 3.93 ERA, with 25 strikeouts, and eight walks.
New College of Florida
The Mighty Banyans are a new program and they are 9-10 entering this week. They are on a three-game losing streak after losing a trio of games to Ave Maria University. New College of Florida is hitting .267 as a team. They are propelled by John McIntosh, who is batting .436, with nine runs scored, and 11 RBIs. Rylan Jomisko is hitting .375, with five runs scored, one home run, and six RBIs.
On the mound, the Mighty Banyans are guided by Owen McKinley, who is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in 22.2 innings. He has struck out 32, and walked eight. Anthony Griffith is 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings of work.
Purdue University Northwest
The Pride comes into the week with a 7-1 record. They are coming off a pair of wins over Florida Tech. Purdue Northwest is batting .284 as a team. They have one home run, and 43 RBIs. Hayden Matulich paces the Pride, hitting .455, with five runs scored, one home run, and six RBIs. Beldon Glasgow is hitting .389, with one run scored, and three RBIs. Cole Olson has a team-high 10 RBIs.
On the hill, Purdue Northwest is propelled by Conor Pangburn, who is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings of work. Jake Nightingale is 2-0 with a 2.51 ERA in 14.1 innings, with 11 strikeouts.
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