PUEBLO, COLO. – The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team responded after Saturday's series opening loss with a doubleheader sweep of Wayne State College 8-0, and 11-6 Sunday, February 23 at Hobbs Field at the Runyon Sports Complex in Pueblo, Colo.
The Golden Eagles improved to 3-3 (2-1 NSIC) with Sunday's wins. Minnesota Crookston will now either get a get a series split to open NSIC play, or a series win. Wayne State dropped to 2-5 (1-2 NSIC) with Sunday's results. The Golden Eagles picked up their first wins in the series in four tries. Their last win came with a 2-0 victory in Fort Scott, Kan., February 22, 2024.

Game 1
Minnesota Crookston was lifted by excellent combined performance of Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.), who tossed a gem on the mound with a complete game shutout in the 8-0 victory. Dykhoff allowed just two hits and no runs, striking out 10, and walking none. At the plate, he helped himself out by going 2-of-3, with one RBI, and two runs scored.

Minnesota Crookston was efficient, scoring eight runs on 10 hits. In addition to Dykhoff, Kobe Senn (So., IF, Fargo, N.D.) went 2-of-2, with two RBIs, and a run scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) has made a major impact as a true freshman, going 1-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.) went 1-of-4, with a run scored. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF, Roseau, Minn.), and Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C/1B, Blaine, Minn.) each went 1-of-3.

Clay Beaumont suffered the loss for the Wildcats, allowing five runs on six hits in 2.1 innings. He struck out two, and walked one. Keinan Lentall went 3.1 innings, allowing three runs on three hits. Adam Eggert pitched 0.1 innings, allowing no runs. Wayne State was led by Quinn McCafferty, and Gabe Monosmith, who were each 1-of-2.

The U of M Crookston went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first when Senn doubled to left center, driving in Dykhoff, and Satrom.

In the third, Dykhoff put a solo shot over the center field fence to widen the gap to 3-0. Later in the third, Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) hit a home run to right center, scoring himself, and Senn.

The Golden Eagles extended their advantage to 6-0 in the fifth when Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) scored when Sculati hit into a double play.

Minnesota Crookston secured their victory in the sixth with two more runs. Debilzen singled through the left side, scoring Larsen. Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF, Roseau, Minn.) delivered a pinch-hit single to plate Debilzen to push the advantage to 8-0.

Game Two
The Golden Eagles controlled the game for most of Sunday's second game, but Wayne State made a ninth inning charge scoring three runs. Ultimately Minnesota Crookston picked up the 11-6 victory over the Wildcats for the doubleheader sweep.

Satrom propelled the Golden Eagles with his bat, going an unblemished 4-of-4, with five runs scored, and three RBIs. Dykhoff continued his big day, going 2-of-5, with two RBIs. Debilzen was 2-of-3, with an RBI, and a run scored. Kodi Miller (Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) finished 2-of-5, with a run scored, while his younger brother Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) made his first start, going 1-of-3, with an RBI, and two runs scored.

Kyle Odenbach (Fr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.) started and went four innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out seven, and walked three. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) through an outstanding bullpen outing to pick up the win. He tossed four innings, allowing one earned run, on four hits. Roers struck out five, and walked one. Jake Jaroszewski (Fr., LHP, Fargo, N.D.) allowed one earned run, on three walks. Jacob Mathiason (R-Sr., RHP, Rockford, Minn.) got Minnesota Crookston out of the game. He allowed no runs, on one hit in one inning.

The loss went to Wayne State's Carson Obrecht, who allowed two earned runs, on five hits. Josh Kilzer had a great relief outing, going 3.1 innings. He allowed three runs, striking out six.

The Wildcats were led by Nate Cunningham, who was 2-of-5, with an RBI, and two runs scored. Chase Douglas was 2-of-5, while Noah Strizek went 2-of-6.

The Golden Eagles jumped on the gas in the bottom of the first, taking a 2-0 lead. A Senn single plated Debilzen, and Satrom.

Wayne State cut the deficit to 2-1 in the second with a solo shot from Cunningham.

Minnesota Crookston added two runs in the second. Kyler Miller scored on a throwing error, followed by a Dykhoff single to deliver Satrom to the plate to push the advantage to 4-1.
The Golden Eagles went ahead 5-1 in the fourth with a Dykhoff double to left field, scoring Satrom.

In the fifth, Kyler Miller came through with a double, scoring Aaron Wensloff. Later in the frame, a Satrom single scored Kyler Miller to make it 7-1. The U of M Crookston ended the fifth as Satrom scored on a throwing error to make it 8-1.

In the sixth stanza, Casey Prychak doubled in Cunningham to trim the deficit to 8-2.

Minnesota Crookston added to their lead in the seventh. A Satrom triple drove in Danny Wensloff, and Kodi Miller to extend the lead to 10-2. Satrom scored on a Debilzen groundout to push the advantage to 11-2.

In the top of the eighth, Douglas reached on an error, allowing Blake Stanley to score to trim the lead to 11-3.

Wayne State made a stir in the top of the ninth. A Stanley single plated Taylor Gill to cut it to 11-4. Later in the frame, Cunningham reached on an error, scoring Monosmith, and McCafferty to trim the deficit to 11-6. Mathiason pitched the Golden Eagles out of a bases loaded situation to preserve the victory.

Minnesota Crookston and Wayne State will conclude the series Monday, February 24 at 12 p.m. C.T., at Hobbs Field in Pueblo, Colo.