SAINT GEORGE, Kan. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team lost 13-9 to the University of Sioux Falls in a game that saw 13 home runs. The first 15 runs of the game were all scored on home runs during the windy afternoon in northeast Kansas. Minnesota Crookston loaded the bases in the top of the ninth, but were unable to complete a late comeback in the opening game of the four-game series.
Minnesota Crookston dropped to 6-9 (3-2 NSIC) after Friday's loss at Rock Creek High School in Saint George, Kan. Sioux Falls improved to 5-14 (1-4 NSIC) with the victory. The Golden Eagles have lost the last two games in the series, and are 3-3 in their last six tilts with the Cougars.
Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) started and allowed six runs on nine hits in 3.1 innings. Max Weber (R-Sr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) had a strong relief outing, pitching a scoreless 2.2 frames. Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) allowed three earned runs on one hit in 0.1 innings. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) gave up two earned runs in one frame, while Kayden Camacho (Jr., RHP, Glyndon, Minn.) pitched a scoreless 0.1 innings. Grant Lindholm (R-Fr., LHP, Ham Lake, Minn.) made his collegiate pitching debut, pitching a scoreless 0.1 innings.
Jake Ammann started for USF, allowing seven runs on 10 hits. He struck out six, and walked one. Jace Coleman picked up the win for Sioux Falls, allowing no runs in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Golden Eagles tied their season high from last season with five home runs Friday. Minnesota Crookston had five home runs against Wayne State, and Concordia-St. Paul in 2024. Josh Dykhoff (Jr., DH, Wadena, Minn.) paced Minnesota Crookston going 2-of-5, with three RBI, and a run scored. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.) was 3-of-4, with three RBIs, and two runs scored. Wensloff hit two home runs. Sawyer Satrom (R-Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.) went 2-of-5, with two RBIs, and two runs scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) was 2-of-4, with one run scored.
Sioux Falls had eight runs in a game. Mitch Iliff, Isaac Bonner, and William Edwards each had two home runs apiece.
The Cougars took a 1-0 advantage in the bottom of the first with a Dominic Vogel home run. Ben Serie made back-to-back home runs with a shot over the left field fence to push the lead to 2-0.
USF pushed the advantage to 3-0 with a Bonner home run in the bottom of the second stanza.
Sioux Falls extended their lead to 4-0 with an Iliff home run over the center field wall.
Minnesota Crookston got two runs back in the top of the fourth with an Aaron Wensloff home run, driving in Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) to cut the deficit to 4-2.
USF got the two runs back in the bottom of the fourth. Bonner hit his second home run of the game, and the sixth overall of the tilt, pushing the lead to 5-2. A William Edwards home run pushed the lead to 6-2 in favor of the Cougars.
Minnesota Crookston had a big response in the top of the fifth. Dykhoff hit a three-run home run, bringing in himself, Caden Kappes (So., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.), and Satrom to trim the deficit to 6-5. The Golden Eagles knotted the tilt 6-6 with Aaron Wensloff's second home run of the game, and the ninth home run of the tilt.
The Golden Eagles continued their run in the top of the seventh when Satrom drove a ball over the center field fence, bringing in Debilzen as Minnesota Crookston an 8-6 lead. Sculati hit his first home run of the game, pushing the advantage to 9-6. In the seventh inning, the game went into a lightning delay.
After the lightning delay, the Cougars took a slice out of the lead. Dominic Vogel bunted and reached on an error, allowing Edwards, and Nolan Drossel to score. The runs were the first scores not to come from a home run, as Sioux Falls cut the deficit to 9-8. The home run break didn't last long, as Iliff put a two-run shot over the center field fence, scoring Dominic Vogel to give USF a 10-9 advantage. The home run marked the 12th of the game between the two squads.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 12-9 on a William Edwards home run, his second of the game, driving in himself, and Ryan Gouldin. The Cougars pushed their tally to 13-9 using a Dominic Vogel sacrifice fly, scoring Drossel. Serie was caught stealing home to put a halt to the half-inning.
In the top of the ninth, Aaron Wensloff, and Kobe Senn (Sr., Fargo, N.D.) each reached on walks with one out to put the game-tying run on deck. Garrett Oswald struck out Kodi Miller (Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) to give USF the second out of the frame. The Golden Eagles loaded the bags when Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) reached on four balls. The Cougars got Kappes to line out to center to preserve the 13-9 win.
Minnesota Crookston will play a doubleheader against Sioux Falls Saturday, March 15 in Kansas at 12 and 2 p.m.
