CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a 13-9 win over the University of Minnesota Duluth Sunday, April 28 at the Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field. Kodi Miller (Jr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) hit two home runs, including a grand slam, accounting for six RBIs in the win.
The Golden Eagles improved to 29-14 (23-10 NSIC) with Sunday's win. Minnesota Crookston is one win away from their first back-to-back 30-win seasons in program history. They are three conference wins away from tying their 23 conference wins in 2023. Minnesota Crookston is 23-6 in their last 29 games. The Golden Eagles are 6-1 in their last seven games against the Bulldogs. Minnesota Crookston has clinched a spot in the NSIC tournament for the sixth time in the last nine years. The Golden Eagles moved into third place with a St. Cloud State University loss Sunday. They trail Minnesota State University by two games, and lead the Huskies by a half-game.
Nate Benning (Fr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) started Sunday's game and went five innings, allowing five earned runs on seven hits. Benning struck out four. Isaac Roers (R-So., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) allowed three runs on five hits. Max Weber (Jr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) picked up the win, improving to 2-1. He allowed no runs on one hit. Weber struck out two. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Jr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) went one inning, allowing no runs, and striking out two. Caden Edwards (R-Jr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) pitched one inning, allowing no runs on one hit.
Miller paced the Golden Eagles, going 2-of-4, with two runs scored, and six RBIs, including two home runs. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) was 2-of-5, with an RBI, and a run scored. Sawyer Satrom (R-So., IF, Portland, N.D.) was 2-of-5, with an RBI, and a run scored. Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) finished 1-of-5, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Danny Wensloff (R-Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) was 1-of-4, with an RBI, and two runs scored.
The loss went to Hayden Brown, who allowed one earned run on three hits in 1.1 innings. The Bulldogs struggled defensively, as they finished with five errors Sunday.
Minnesota Duluth broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth when Michael Gabbard scored on an error by Miller at catcher, after an overthrow when Jack Puder stole second.
The Golden Eagles took the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Dykhoff hit a two-run home run, his 11th of the season. Dykhoff drove in himself, and Dykhoff. Cole Hebl (Fr., OF/1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) scored on an error to widen the gap to 3-1. A Wensloff single through the right side plated Kobe Senn (R-So., IF, Fargo, N.D.) to take the lead to 4-1. To cap off the fourth, Satrom singled to bring in Wensloff to make it 5-1.
Minnesota Crookston added to their lead in the fifth. A grand slam for Miller, his fifth home run of the season, scoring himself, Wensloff, Senn, and Hebl to extend the advantage to 9-1.
The Bulldogs knotted the game 9-9 in the top of the sixth. A Gabe Richardson double brought in Gabbard, and Sam Kliber to slice in to the lead 9-3. Puder followed it up with a double to plate Richardson, and Oren Hinkle to trim the deficit to 9-5. An Ethan Cole double scored Puder to bring UMD within 9-6. A Troy Lunch single plated Cole to cut the deficit to 9-7. The Bulldogs tied the game 9-9 when Trevor Gustafson hit a home run, scoring himself, and Lynch.
The Minnesota Crookston took the 10-9 lead when Giefer singled, plating Satrom.
In the seventh, Miller slammed his second home run of the game, and sixth of the season, scoring himself, and Senn to push the advantage to 12-9.
The Golden Eagles capped off the win with an Angelo Pacyga (R-So., OF, Sunfish Lake, Minn.) triple, scoring Giefer to widen the gap to 13-9.
Minnesota Crookston returns to action Tuesday, April 30 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., versus the University of Mary.
