PUEBLO, Colo. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team picked up a series victory with an 11-9 win over Wayne State College Monday, February 24 at Hobbs Field in Pueblo, Colo. The Golden Eagles were guided by a solo shot from Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) in the bottom of the seventh to pick up the victory.
Minnesota Crookston improved to 4-3 (3-1 NSIC) with Monday's win in Colorado. The Golden Eagles take the series three games to one. Wayne State dropped to 2-6 (1-3 NSIC) with the loss.
The win went to Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Fargo, N.D.), who pitched two innings, allowing two runs, on two hits. The save went to Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.), his first of the season. Grafsgaard pitched two innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Isaac Wensloff (Jr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) had a strong relief outing, tossing 3.1 innings. He allowed two runs, on four hits. Isaac Wensloff struck out seven, and walked one. Kayden Camacho (Jr., RHP, Glyndon, Minn.) pitched a scoreless 0.2 innings. Max Weber (Sr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) started the game, allowing four earned runs in one inning.
The loss for Wayne State went to Eli Crnkovich, who gave up two runs in 2.1 innings, striking out two, and walking two.
Sculati led the Golden Eagles, going 3-of-5, with three RBIs, and three runs scored. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF, Roseau, Minn.) was 2-of-4, with four RBIs, and a run scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) went 2-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored.
Wayne State broke open the score after a clean first inning, as they scored five runs in the top of the second. Quinn McCafferty singled, followed by a misplayed ball in left field for an error, allowing Gill to come around to score. Braden Cannon then doubled in McCafferty to push the advantage to 2-0. Gabe Monosmith came in to score on a fourth ball wild pitch to extend the lead to 3-0. Max Heard delivered a two-run double, scoring Nate Cunningham, and Cannon to push the lead to 5-0. Isaac Wensloff pitched the Golden Eagles out of further danger to keep the score at 5-0 in favor of the Wildcats.
The Golden Eagles got two runs back in the bottom of the third. Debilzen was walked with the bases loaded, scoring Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.). Josh Dykhoff (Jr., DH, Wadena, Minn.)then delivered a sacrifice fly to score Caden Kappes (So., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.). With two outs, Sculati put one over the left fielder's head for a double, driving in Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.), and Debilzen to trim the deficit to 5-4. Aaron Wensloff chased Kneifl from the game with an one RBI single, scoring Sculati to knot the game 5-5.
A Cunningham solo shot extended the Wildcat advantage to 6-5 in the fourth. Wayne State moved their lead to 7-5 in the fifth when Gabe Monosmith hit an infield single, plating Max Heard.
The Golden eagles took the 8-7 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a three-run shot from Aaron Wensloff over the left field fence, scoring Sculati, and Senn. Kodi Miller (Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) pushed the lead to 9-7 with a solo shot toward Runyon Lake.
The Wildcats knotted the game 9-9 in the top of the sixth with a two-run home run from Heard, driving in himself, and Douglas.
The Golden Eagles took a 10-9 lead in the bottom of the seventh with a solo home run from Sculati. Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the eighth to extend the lead to 11-9 for the Golden Eagles.
Grafsgaard was able to get the Golden Eagles the save to preserve the 11-9 victory.
The Golden Eagles are set to commence their Florida excursion Friday, February 28 against Davenport University in Tampa. Fla.
