CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of MInnesota Crookston baseball team returns to NSIC play this weekend in Auburndale, Fla. The Golden Eagles are set for a four-game set with the University of Sioux Falls at the RussMatt Invitational. The Golden Eagles and Cougars will play their games at the Lake Myrtle Complex. 

They will play a single nine-inning game Friday, March 8 at 5 p.m. C.T., on the main field. The two squads will play a doubleheader with a seven-inning tilt, and a nine-inning game Saturday, March 9 at 2:45 p.m., and 4:45 p.m. C.T., on field one at the Lake Myrtle Complex. They wrap up their series with a single nine-inning game Sunday, March 10 at 6 p.m. C.T. 

Sioux Falls vs. Minnesota Crookston

Friday, March 8 - 5 p.m. C.T. - Lake Myrtle Complex - Main Field - Auburndale, Fla.
Saturday, March 9 - 2:45 p.m./4:45 p.m. C.T. - Lake Myrtle Complex - Field 1 - Auburndale, Fla.
Sunday, March 10 - 6 p.m. C.T. - Lake Myrtle Complex - Main Field - Auburndale, Fla.

Live Stats - https://goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Live Video - https://russmatt.bethebeast.com/eventliveplus

Minnesota Crookston
Projected Starters
Sr. C 19 Danny Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .267, 6 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Or Jr. C 29 Kodi Miller, Grand Rapids, Minn., .333, 4 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 1 RBI
Sr. 1B 18 Teddy Giefer, Courtland, Minn., .459, 6 R, 5 2B, 2 HR, 15 RBI
R-So. 2B 20 Kobe Senn, Fargo, N.D., .179, 2 R, 1 RBI
Or Fr. 2B 17 Aaron Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .000
R-So. 3B 2 Sawyer Satrom, Portland, N.D., .235, 4 R, 1 2B, 3 RBI
R-Sr. SS 10 Mitch Goodwin, Prior Lake, Minn., .250, 9 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 8 RBI
R-Sr. LF/RF 8 Jake Hjelle, East Grand Forks, Minn., .318, 9 R, 4 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 8 RBI
Or R-So. LF 5 Angelo Pacyga, Sunfish Lake, Minn., .200
R-Jr. CF 9 Caden Headlee, Fargo, N.D., .452, 9 R, 5 2B, 8 RBI
R-Sr. RF 23 Ben Goelz, Maple Lake, Minn., .269, 7 R, 1 3B, 1 HR, 4 RBI
So. DH 32 Josh Dykhoff, Wadena, Minn., .348, 13 R, 4 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI

Top Pitchers
Sr. RHP 7 Brody Sorenson, 1-0 3.00 ERA, 15.0 IP, 20 K, 3 BB
Fr. LHP 41 Nate Benning, 1-1 3.86 ERA, 11.2 IP, 7 K, 9 BB
So. RHP 32 Josh Dykhoff, 1-1 6.75 ERA, 16.0 IP, 15 K, 5 BB
R-Sr. RHP 24 Jake Osowski, 1-0 8.56 ERA, 13.2 IP, 10 K, 5 BB
Sr. RHP 25 Nate Grafsgaard, 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 4 K, 4 BB
So. LHP 39 Joey Connelly, 0-1 3.60 ERA, 1 SV, 5.0 IP, 5 K, 3 BB
Jr. RHP 13 Jacob Mathiason, 0-0 5.40 ERA, 3.1 IP, 4 K, 2 BB

The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 4-6 (1-3 NSIC) mark. They have opened their 11-game Florida trip with a 2-1 mark, including wins over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Davis & Elkins College. Minnesota Crookston is set for their second conference series after falling 1-3 to Wayne State College in Fort Scott, Kan., February 21-23.

At the plate, Minnesota Crookston comes into the series hitting .314 as a team, with 70 runs scored, 23 doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, and 63 RBIs. The Golden Eagles have also reached on 51 walks. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) has led Minnesota Crookston, batting .459, with six runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, and 15 RBIs. Caden Headlee (R-Jr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) has also had a strong start to 2024, hitting .452, with nine runs scored, five doubles, and eight RBIs. Reigning NSIC Freshman of the Year Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) is hitting .348, with 13 runs scored, four doubles, four home runs, and 10 RBIs. Reigning NCBWA National Player of the Year Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) is hitting .318, with nine runs scored, four doubles, a triple, two home runs, and eight RBIs.

On the mound, the Golden Eagles come in with a 7.41 ERA, with 76 strikeouts, and 50 walks. Senior Brody Sorenson has been the lynchpin in the rotation for Minnesota Crookston. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 15 innings pitched, with 20 strikeouts, and just three walks. Lefty Nate Benning (Fr., Browerville, Minn.) has made a major impact as a newcomer. He is 1-1 with a 3.86 ERA in 11.2 innings pitched. Benning picked up his first career win earlier during the Florida trip. Out of the bullpen, Joey Connelly (So., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) is looking to reel in the closer role. Connelly is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in five innings, with one save. 

Sioux Falls

Projected Starters
Jr. C 14 Ryan Gouldin, Firth, Neb., .214, 6 R, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI

R-Jr. 1B 3 Ben Serie, Luverne, Minn.,.387, 6 R, 2 2B, 1 3B, 10 RBI

R-Fr. 2B 5 Nolan Drossel, Woodbury, Minn., .111, 5 R, 1 RBI

Or R-Sr. 2B 27 Tyler Cate, Omaha, Neb., .286, 2 R, 1 RBI
R-Jr. 3B 25 Isaac Bonner, Omaha, Neb., .345, 8 R, 4 2B, 2 RBI

R-Jr. SS 4 Noah Christenson, Buffalo, Minn., .313, 8 R, 3 2B, 2 3B, 8 RBI
R-Sr. LF 1 Brady Klehr, Richmond, Minn., .333, 8 R, 2 2B, 5 RBI
R-So. CF 16 David Swanson, Lincoln, Neb., .333, 8 R, 3 2B, 8 RBI
R-So. RF 2 Dane Small, Martell, Neb., .394, 7 R, 6 2B, 2 HR, 11 RBI

Sr. DH 15 Rhett Zelinsky, Brookings, S.D., .067, 3 R, 1 RBI

Or R-Sr. DH 12 Noah Buss, Lincoln, Neb., .375, 1 R, 2 RBI

Top Pitchers
R-Fr. RHP 26 Owen Weadge, Hudson, Wis., 1-1 3.65 ERA, 12.1 IP, 11 K, 4 BB
Sr. LHP 6 Reese Gaber, Stevens Point, Wis., 2-0 5.79 ERA, 9.1 IP, 10 K, 5 BB
Fr. LHP 47 Brady Baur, Prior Lake, Minn., 1-0 1.59 ERA, 5.2 IP, 8 K, 5 BB
R-Sr. RHP 8 Derek Lundgren, Luverne, Minn., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 5.0 IP, 3 K, 1 BB                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          So. So. RHP 21 Logan Anderson, Omaha, Neb., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 3.1 IP, 3 K, 1 BB

So. RHP 0 Jake Ammann, Brookings, S.D., 0-0 7.50 ERA, 6.0 IP, 6 K, 7 BB

Sioux Falls comes into Florida with a 5-3 mark. The Cougars picked up a 3-1 series win over Missouri S&T in late February. They are coming off a 15-35 mark in 2023. 

At the plate, USF is hitting .301, with 67 runs scored, 22 doubles, three triples, four home runs, and 58 RBIs. Dane Small leads the way, batting .394, with seven runs scored, six doubles, two home runs, and 11 RBIs. Ben Serie comes in hitting .387, with six runs scored, two doubles, one triple, and 10 RBIs. Isaac Bonner is batting .345, with eight runs scored, four doubles, and two RBIs. David Swanson is swinging .333, with eight runs scored, and eight RBIs.

On the bump, Sioux Falls comes in with a 6.20 ERA, 62 strikeouts, and 41 walks. Owen Weadge is 1-1 with a 3.65 ERA in 12.1 innings pitched, with 11 strikeouts, and four walks. Senior lefty Reese Gaber is 2-0 with a 5.79 ERA, with 10 strikeouts, and five walks. Freshman lefty Brady Baur is 1-0 with a 1.59 ERA in 5.2 innings of work.