AUBURNDALE, Fla. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team scored five runs in the seventh and eighth innings to defeat Davis & Elkins College 6-1 Saturday, March 2 at Lake Myrtle Park in Auburndale, Fla. The Golden Eagles win their second-consecutive game in the Sunshine State. Nate Benning (Fr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) picked up his first career win on the bump.

The Golden Eagles improved to 4-5 (1-3 NSIC) with Saturday's victory. The Senators dropped to 0-6 with the loss. Minnesota Crookston is 2-0 in Florida thus far.

Brody Sorenson (Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) continued his strong performance on the mound. Sorenson, who spent most of his previous collegiate career as a reliever, went five innings with one run allowed on five hits. Sorenson struck out nine, and walked three. Benning improved to 1-1, going four innings in relief. He allowed no runs, with one strikeout, and one walk.

Ethan Marshall started for Davis & Elkins, throwing 5.2 innings. He allowed one run on two hits. Marshall struck out four, and walked four. Dariell Melendez-Perez suffered the loss, allowing two runs, in one inning. Bronson Ferencak allowed two runs, while Joe Ginn gave up a run.

Minnesota Crookston tallied seven hits. The Golden Eagles were guided by Ben Goelz (R-Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.), who went 2-of-3, with two RBIs. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) was 1-of-4, with two RBIs. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) finished 1-of-3. Mitch Goodwin (R-Sr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.) was 1-of-3, with two RBIs, while Sawyer Satrom (R-So., IF, Portland, N.D.) finished 1-of-3, with a run scored.

Both teams left runners on base for the first two innings, but the Golden Eagles were the first to break through in the third frame. Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) grounded out, driving in Satrom to make it 1-0.

The Senators left two runners on the base paths in the fourth stanza, but were able to knot the game 1-1 in the fifth when Cort Kegley singled in Aydin Zimmerman.

The game was 1-1 before the Golden Eagles broke through in the seventh inning. A Headlee double in the seventh, drove in Dykhoff, and Goodwin to put Minnesota Crookston ahead 3-1. 

In the eighth stanza, Caden Kappes (Fr., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.) scored on a wild pitch to extend the advantage to 4-1. A Goelz single later in the frame drove in Goodwin, and Kobe Senn (R-So., IF, Fargo, N.D.) to widen the gap to 6-1.

After Andrew Butts was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, Benning retired the following three batters to preserve the 6-1 win.

Minnesota Crookston continues their Florida excursion Sunday, March 3 at 10 a.m. C.T., against Ashland University in Davenport, Fla.