BISMARCK, N.D. - Danny Wensloff (R-Jr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) hit a double down the right field line to drive in pinch-runners Caden Kappes (Fr., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.) and Ben Goelz (R-Sr., OF, Maple Lake, Minn.) to send the Golden Eagles to a 6-5 walk-off victory over the University of Mary in the bottom of the 11th inning.
Minnesota Crookston improved to 35-15 with the victory. UMary ends their season with a 23-27 mark. The Golden Eagles will remain in the NSIC Tournament, as they improved to 6-13 in tournament play. Minnesota Crookston is three wins from tying their most wins in school history.
Brody Sorenson (Sr., RHP, Grand Forks, N.D.) started and went 6.2 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits. Sorenson struck out six, and walked one. Sorenson kept the Golden Eagles in position to win. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Jr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) tossed 2.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Caden Edwards (R-Jr., LHP, Fargo, N.D.) allowed no runs on two walks, with two strikeouts. Max Weber (Jr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) improved to 3-1 with the win, allowing an unearned run in one frame.
Ryan Chamberlain started and went five innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Mark Schommer suffered the loss, after throwing five innings of relief and 110 pitches. He struck out eight, and walked five. Kaden Moriarty gave up the game-winning hit.
Minnesota Crookston notched eight hits. Danny Wensloff went 2-of-5, with two RBIs, the game-winning runs. Kodi Miller (Jr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) was 1-of-4, with one run scored, and an RBI. Teddy Giefer (Sr., 1B, Courtland, Minn.) was 1-of-4, with two RBIs, and a run scored.
With one out, NSIC Freshman of the Year Beck got a single through the right side to open things up for the Marauders in the top of the first. Josh Walker delivered a single to move Beck over to third. Sorenson got Noah Hull to ground into a 3-6-1 double-play to keep the score knotted 0-0.
Both pitchers mowed down the order in the bottom of the first, top of the second, bottom of the second.
Daniel Martin opened the top of the third with a single, but Sorenson picked up a strikeout, and a key double play to get out of danger.
Beck led off the top of the fourth by reaching on an error by Senn. Sorenson retired three batters consecutively to keep the tally 0-0.
Satrom broke up the no-hitter with a single to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Chamberlain got Giefer to ground into a double play to keep the score 0-0.
Sorenson shut down the Marauders in order in the top of the fifth.
The Marauders gave Hjelle a free base to commence the bottom of the fifth. Miller sent a double to the fence in left center to score Hjelle to break the scoreless tie 1-0. Danny Wensloff kept the scoring threat alive with a single to left field to give UMN Crookston runners at the corners. A Goodwin sacrifice fly to left plated Miller to push the tally to 2-0. Chamberlain got the final out of the stanza but not before Minnesota Crookston took the 2-0 advantage.
The Marauders knotted the game 2-2 with a Beck two-run home run, plating himself, and Kalem Haney in the top of the sixth. Sorenson came back and got a strikeout. Hull kept the inning alive with a base-knock. Michael Polson extended the inning with a single. Sorenson got Dylan Edmands to fly out to center to exit the frame.
With Schommer on the hill, Headlee picked up a one-out walk to keep the Golden Eagles alive. Headlee moved over to second on a wild pitch. Giefer walked with one out to give Minnesota Crookston a pair of baserunners. Schommer got a crucial strikeout of Hjelle to rack up a pair of outs. Dykhoff was walked to load the bases with two outs.
The Marauders pushed the lead to 4-2 with a Krece Papierski two-run home run, driving in himself, and Martin. Grafsgaard got the Golden Eagles out of the stanza after coming out of the bullpen.
The Golden Eagles got the bases loaded in the top of the sixth, but Schommer struck out Miller to get out of the frame.
Minnesota Crookston opened the bottom of the eighth with a lead-off single from Headlee. Giefer launched one over the right field fence to tie the game 4-4. Schommer struck out Hjelle to get the first out of the frame. He struck out Miller to keep the game knotted 4-4.
Cru Walker led the top of the ninth off with a single. However, Grafsgaard made one of the plays of the game as he caught an attempted bunt off Martin's bat, and doubled up Walker at first. Grafsgaard struck out Papierski to keep the game knotted 4-4.
Schommer struck out Wensloff to open the bottom of the ninth. Goodwin kept Minnesota Crookston alive with a base hit with one out. The Marauders got Goodwin out on the fielder's choice to move it to two outs. Schommer got a pop out from Satrom to send the game to extra innings.
Haney reached on a hit by pitch to lead off the top of the 10th for the Marauders. Beck walked on four pitches to give UMary a pair of baserunners. Josh Walker sacrificed the runners to second and third. Edwards struck out Hull to move to a pair of outs. The Golden Eagles intentionally walked Polson to load the bags. Edwards struck out Edmands as the Marauders came up empty.
Schommer retired the first two batters, leaving Hjelle. Schommer got a pop out for Hjelle to keep the tally 4-4.
Weber walked Cru Walker to open the top of the 11th. Walker moved to second on a wild pitch. Martin reached on an error to score Walker to give the Marauders a 5-4 advantage. Martin moved to second on a wild pitch. Weber got the lead runner out at third base to get the second out. Kalem Haney moved over on a wild pitch. Weber struck out Beck to get out of the frame.
Dykhoff opened the stanza with a walk. Pinch-hitter Cole Hebl (Fr., OF/1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) looked like a senior at the plate, working a long at-bat to earn a walk. Wensloff then came through with a double to plate Kappes and Goelz to walk-off the game 6-5.
Minnesota Crookston will play the loser of the Augustana University/Wayne State College game at approximately 7 p.m., at Bismarck Municipal Ballpark in Bismarck, N.D.
