CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston will open the NSIC season with a four-game neutral-site series against Wayne State College at the Runyon Field Sports Complex in Pueblo, Colo. The Golden Eagles play the Wildcats Saturday, February 22 at 3 p.m. C.T., a doubleheader Sunday, February 23 at 2 and 4 p.m. C.T., and a single game Monday, February 24 at 12 p.m. C.T.

The Wildcats are 1-3 entering the Centennial State, while Minnesota Crookston is 1-2. The Golden Eagles have lost the last three games in the series. Minnesota Crookston's last win came with a 2-0 victory in Fort Scott, Kan., February 22, 2024. The Golden Eagles are 5-4 in their last nine games against the Wildcats.

Minnesota Crookston vs. Wayne State

Saturday, February 22 - 3 p.m. C.T.

Sunday, February 23 - 2 and 4 p.m. C.T.

Monday, February 24 - 12 p.m. C.T.

Runyon Field Sports Complex, Pueblo, Colo.

Live Stats - goldeneaglesports.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary

Wayne State Projected Starters
Jr. C 28 Casey Prychak, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Sr. 1B 8 Kaden Young, Columbus, Neb.

Sr. 2B 2 Chase Douglas, Marshall, Minn.

Jr. 3B 10 Braden Cannon, Omaha, Neb.

Or Jr. 3B 20 Nate Cunningham, Elkhorn, Neb.

Sr. SS 21 Quinn McCafferty, Big Horn, Wyo.

R-So. LF 14 Noah Strizek, Lincoln, Neb.
R-Jr. CF 5 Cam Madsen, Papillon, Neb.

Sr. RF/DH 4 Taylor Gill, Orem, Utah

So. DH/LF 22 Max Heard, Omaha, Neb.

Or Jr. DH 16 Gabe Monosmith, Ankeny, Iowa

Top Pitchers
R-Fr. LHP 12 Brooks Kneifl, Wayne, Neb.
Sr. RHP 33 Josh Kilzer, Omaha, Neb.

So. LHP 24 Conlin Grady, Omaha, Neb.
Sr. RHP 25 Kadyn Van Hill, Omaha, Neb.
Fr. RHP 26 Carson Obrecht, Omaha, Neb.
So. RHP 19 Kyler Hanson, Omaha, Neb.
Sr. RHP 34 Jacob Kneifl, Wayne, Neb.

Sr. RHP 13 Jackson Shelburne, Omaha, Neb.

Wayne State enters the weekend with a 1-3 mark after losing a pair to UC Colorado Springs, and splitting with Colorado State Pueblo. The Wildcats picked up a 7-6 victory over the ThunderWolves. Wayne State is hitting .291, with 26 runs scored, with one home run, and 26 RBIs. Noah Strizek paces the Wildcats batting .571, with two runs scored, and four RBIs. Max Heard is swinging .467, with five runs scored, three doubles, one triple, and three RBIs. Braden Cannon is hitting .444, with two runs scored, one home runs, and three RBIs. Chase Douglas is swinging .333, with three runs scored. Taylor Gill is batting .313, with five runs scored, one triple, and five RBIs. 

The Wildcats have a 9.93 ERA entering the week, with 29 strikeouts, and 31 walks. Wayne State's Conlin Grady has a 0.00 ERA in 4.1 innings, with four strikeouts, and two walks. Brooks Kneifl has a 4.50 ERA in four innings, with three strikeouts, and four walks. Josh Kilzer has a 4.50 ERA in four innings, with four strikeouts, and three walks. Kyler Hanson has a 3.37 ERA in 2.2 innings.

Minnesota Crookston Projected Starters
Sr. C 29 Kodi Miller, Grand Rapids, Minn., .125, 1 RBI

R-Jr. 1B/C 28 Brock Larsen, Blaine, Minn., .250, 1 R, 1 2B

Or So. 1B 17 Aaron Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .000, 2 R

R-Jr. 2B 20 Kobe Senn, Fargo, N.D., .231

Sr. 3B 2 Sawyer Satrom, Portland, N.D., .308, 4 R, 2 HR, 7 RBI

So. SS 1 Caden Kappes, Wahpeton, N.D., .125, 2 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI

R-Jr. LF 6 Americo Sculati, Golden Valley, Minn., .333, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI

R-Jr. CF/RF 21 Connor Bushbaum, Saginaw, Minn., .429, 1 R, 1 2B

Or Fr. CF 27 Dylan Debilzen, Parkers Prairie, Minn., .375, 1 R, 1 RBI

R-Sr. RF 19 Danny Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .250, 1 R

Jr. DH 32 Josh Dykhoff, Wadena, Minn., .300, 1 R, 1 2B, 2 RBI

Top Pitchers

Jr. RHP 32 Josh Dykhoff, Wadena, Minn., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 4.0 IP, 4 K, 0 BB
So. LHP 37 Nate Benning, Browerville, Minn., 0-0 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 1 K, 2 BB
R-Jr. RHP 16 Isaac Roers, Stacy, Minn., 0-1 7.71 ERA, 2.1 IP, 1 K, 0 BB
R-Sr. RHP 25 Nate Grafsgaard, Devils Lake, Minn., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2.2 IP, 3 K, 4 BB

Jr. LHP 8 Kyle Odenbach, Thompson, Minn., 0-0 4.50 ERA, 4.0 IP, 3 K, 0 BB

R-So. RHP 30 Jaxson Bennett, Saginaw, Minn., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 0 K, 2 BB

Jr. RHP 9 Kayden Camacho, Glyndon, Minn., 1-0 6.75 ERA, 1.1 IP, 2 K, 1 BB

Jr. LHP 39 Joey Connelly, Eden Prairie, Minn., 0-0 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 3 K, 1 BB

The Golden Eagles come into their NSIC opening series with a 1-2 mark after playing a series of close games at Stanislaus State in Turlock, Calif. Minnesota Crookston comes into the weekend series swinging .260, with 14 runs scored, five doubles, two home runs, and 13 RBIs. Minnesota Crookston was led in their first weekend by Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.), who hit .429, with one run scored, and a double. Sawyer Satrom (R-Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.) played a major role in Sunday's win against the Warriors. Satrom is hitting .308, with four runs scored, two home runs, and a team-high seven RBI. Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) was a key factor in the order, hitting .333, with one run scored, one double, and one RBI. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) made his collegiate debut, swinging .375, with a run scored, and an RBI. Josh Dykhoff (Jr., DH, Wadena, Minn.) hit .300, with a run scored, a double, and two RBIs.

Minnesota Crookston had strong pitching performances over the weekend. The Golden Eagles come into the weekend with a 4.44 ERA in 26.1 innings pitched. Minnesota Crookston struck out 19, and walked 14. Dykhoff paced the Golden Eagles with a 0-0 mark, and a 0.00 ERA in 4.0 innings, with four strikeouts, and no walks. Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in four innings, while Kyle Odenbach (Jr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.) is 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA in four innings. Out of the bullpen, Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) held down the back end, with a 0.00 ERA in 2.2 innings in two calls from the bullpen. Jaxson Bennett (R-So., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) posted a 0.00 ERA in 2.0 innings, while Joey Connelly (Jr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had a 0.00 ERA in an inning of action.