ABERDEEN, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball used three home runs to power a 10-4 victory at Northern State University to end the regular season on a nine-game winning streak.
The Golden Eagles end the regular season with a 34-14 (28-10 NSIC) record. Minnesota Crookston set the record for most conference wins in a season. They have their second-most wins in program history and need five victories to surpass the 38 wins they had in 2023. The Golden Eagles have posted a 28-6 mark since March 12. Northern State finishes the season with an 18-31 (13-26 NSIC). The Golden Eagles clinched at least a No. 3 seed in the NSIC Tournament. They will play at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 8 in either Bismarck or Mandan, N.D. If Southwest Minnesota State University beats Minnesota State University in their second game Saturday, the Golden Eagles will play the University of Mary Wednesday. If the Mavericks beat the Mustangs, Minnesota Crookston will take on Southwest Minnesota State Wednesday.
The Golden Eagles have won 11-straight games against the Wolves dating back to April 24, 2019.
Nate Benning (Fr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) started and pitched six innings, allowing just one run on seven hits. Benning struck out three, and walked one. He improved to 4-1 with Saturday's win. Benning has a 5.37 ERA in his first season.
Carsen Barta (Fr., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) pitched a scoreless seventh inning. Barta has not allowed a run in five-consecutive outings dating back to April 6. Jacob Mathiason (Jr., RHP, Rockford, Minn.) allowed three runs on three hits. Max Weber (Jr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) pitched a scoreless eighth inning, while Isaac Roers (R-So., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) pitched a scoreless ninth on one hit.
The loss went to Northern State's Jack Miller, who allowed four runs on six hits in two innings. Miller struck out one, and walked one.
Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with two RBIs, and three runs scored. Giefer hit his seventh home run of the season. Sawyer Satrom (R-So., IF, Portland, N.D.) was 2-of-4, with one RBI, and two runs scored. Satrom hit his second home run of the season. Caden Headlee (Sr., OF, Fargo, N.D.) was 2-of-6, with one RBI, and one run scored. Kobe Senn (R-So., IF, Fargo, N.D.) finished 1-of-3, with an RBI, and two runs scored. Senn hit his second home run of the season.
The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 advantage when Mitch Goodwin (R-Sr., SS, Prior Lake, Minn.) doubled to left center, scoring Josh Dykhoff (So., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.).
Minnesota Crookston pushed their lead to 2-0 in the third when Satrom put one over the fence. Giefer extended the advantage to 3-0 with a single to plate Headlee. A Dykhoff single brought in Giefer to widen the gap to 4-0 later in the third stanza.
Northern State trimmed the deficit to 4-1 when Jordan DeMarce stole home.
The Golden Eagles added two runs in the top of the fourth. Senn's second home run of the season made it 5-1. Jake Hjelle (R-Sr., OF/1B, East Grand Forks, Minn.) singled through the left side, scoring Satrom to push the lead to 6-1.
In the sixth inning, Giefer powered his seventh home run of the season over the fence in right field to make it 7-1.
In the eighth frame, Danny Wensloff (R-Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) tripled, bringing in Hjelle, and Giefer to extend the tally to 9-1.
Northern State cut the deficit to 9-3 in the eighth with a Brennan Phillips single to right center, plating Michael Benavides, and Meyer. A Nick Friedges sacrifice fly scored Karson Hesser to trim the Minnesota Crookston lead to 9-4.
The Golden Eagles added a security run in the top of the ninth with a Headlee double to plate Senn to widen the gap to 10-4. DeMarce singled with one out to give the Wolves a glimmer in the bottom of the ninth, but Roers got a double play to get out of the game with a 10-4 victory.
Minnesota Crookston will continue their season in the postseason for the sixth time in the last nine years. The 2024 NSIC Tournament is in Bismarck and Mandan, N.D. It is a double elimination tournament. The tournament will consist of Augustana University, Minnesota Crookston, Minnesota State University, St. Cloud State University, Wayne State College, Southwest Minnesota State, UMary, and Concordia University-St. Paul.
