ABERDEEN, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team used great pitching to pick up a Friday sweep of Northern State University Friday, May 3 at Fossum Field in Aberdeen, S.D. The Golden Eagles picked up a 4-1 win, and a 3-0 victory.

The Golden Eagles improved to 33-14 (27-10 NSIC). Minnesota Crookston set their conference wins record with their 27th in 2024. The Golden Eagles have won eight games in a row, and they are 27-6 since March 12. Minnesota Crookston remains in third place in the NSIC standings. They can move up to second if Minnesota State loses both to Southwest Minnesota State Saturday, and the Golden Eagles win versus Northern State Saturday. They have to win Saturday to secure the third-seed. St. Cloud State is a half-game back of the Golden Eagles and would claim the three seed with a win over Bemidji State University Saturday, and a loss for Minnesota Crookston.

Game One - Jake Osowski (R-Sr., RHP, East Grand Forks, Minn.) set the school record for wins in a season, improving to 9-0 with a 4-1 victory over Northern State. Osowski allowed one run on five hits. He struck out five, and walked zero in the game. Osowski is 9-0 with a 3.68 ERA in 71 innings, with two saves.

Kodi Miller (Jr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) went 1-of-3, with two RBIs. Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) was 1-of-3, with a run scored. Danny Wensloff (R-Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) went 1-of-2, with an RBI, and a run scored. Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, with a run scored. Caden Headlee (Sr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) finished 1-of-4, with an RBI.

The loss went to Northern State' Max Otto, who pitched a complete game, allowing four runs on seven hits. Otto struck out five, and walked zero.

The Wolves took a 1-0 lead in the first when Brennan Phillips scored on a Karson Hesser groundout.

Minnesota Crookston tied Northern State 1-1 in the third when Wensloff scored on a Headlee single.

The Golden Eagles extended their advantage to 3-1 in the sixth when Miller singled, scoring Hjelle, and pinch-runner Caden Kappes (Fr., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.).

Minnesota Crookston widened the gap to 4-1 with a Wensloff sacrifice fly to plate Dykhoff.

The Wolves opened the bottom of the seventh with a Nicholas Ochoa double, but Osowki secured three-straight outs to pick up the 4-1 win.

Game Two - Dykhoff pitched a two-hitter in a 3-0 victory over the Wolves. He struck out eight, and walked one in 6.2 innings. 

Isaac Roers (R-So., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) allowed no runs in 0.1 innings. He struck out one. Southpaw Caden Edwards (R-Jr., Duluth, Minn.) struck out one, and allowed no runs in one inning. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Jr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) put a zero in the ninth inning, striking out one. Grafsgaard picked up his fourth save of the season.

Michael Chevlaier picked up the loss, allowing three runs on eight hits. He struck out three, and walked three.

Minnesota Crookston jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the first. A Hjelle single scored Sawyer Satrom (R-So., IF, Portland, N.D.) to make it 1-0. The Golden Eagles extended their lead on a Wensloff double, plating Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.).

Minnesota Crookston took a 3-0 advantage when Giefer scored on a Dykhoff line out. 

Northern State put one on to open the bottom of the ninth when Michael Benavides was hit by a pitch. Grafsgaard responded and retired three in a row to preserve the 3-0 victory. 

The Golden Eagles wrap up the regular season Saturday, May 4 at 1:30 p.m., against Northern State University.