CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team got strong pitching performances Thursday afternoon as they swept Concordia University-St. Paul 11-0, and 5-2 at the Sanford Sports Complex Diamonds in Sioux Falls, S.D. The games were relocated due to field conditions, and weather this weekend.
Minnesota Crookston improved to 11-13 (8-6 NSIC) with Thursday's sweep. Concordia-St. Paul dropped to 10-14 (6-8 NSIC). The two squads came into Thursday tied in the NSIC standings. The Golden Eagles are 8-1 in their last nine games with the Golden Bears.
Game One
Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP, Wadena, Minn.) continued his stellar season with a seven-inning shutout on the hill in game one's 11-0 victory. Dykhoff tossed a complete seven innings, allowing no runs on three hits. He struck out 11, and had zero walks. The strikeout mark was third in program history, only to his brother Jake Dykhoff's mark of 14 in a single game, and Jayden Grover's 14 in a tilt. Dykhoff has had a commanding strikeout-walk ratio this season with 41 strikeouts, and just three walks. Dykhoff improved to 5-1 with the victory.
At the plate, Minnesota Crookston notched 11 runs, on 12 hits. Dykhoff went 2-of-2, with three RBI, and two runs scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) continues to impress in his debut season. He went 2-of-3, with three runs scored. Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.) finished 1-of-3, with two RBI, and two runs scored. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF, Roseau, Minn.) went 3-of-3, with two RBI.
The loss for the Golden Bears went to Korey Dahlberg, who went four innings, allowing seven runs on seven hits. He struck out three, and walked three.
The Golden Eagles took a 3-0 advantage in the bottom of the first. Americo Sculati (R-Jr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) tripled to center field, scoring Dykhoff, and Satrom. An Aaron Wensloff sacrifice fly plated Sculati.
Minnesota Crookston chipped in two runs in the third. Sculati reached on an error, allowing Debilzen to come across the plate. Later in the frame, Dykhoff crossed on a Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N.D.) groundout.
The Golden Eagles added three runs to the tally in the fourth. A Dykhoff double drove in Debilzen, and Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) to extend the advantage to 7-0. Aaron Wensloff put down an infield single, scoring Satrom to make it 8-0.
In the fifth stanza, Satrom singled up the middle to bring in Kyler Miller, and Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C/1B, Blaine, Minn.). Minnesota Crookston pushed the final run across with a Dykhoff sacrifice fly, driving in Debilzen to post an 11-0 win.
Game Two
The Golden Eagles edged the Golden Bears 5-2 in the closer of the doubleheader. Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) picked up his first win of 2025. He went six innings, allowing two runs on eight hits. Benning struck out three, and walked three. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) notched his fifth save of 2025, going one inning and allowing no runs on one hit.
Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) also pitched, allowing no runs on one hit in two stanzas.
The loss went to Gavin Rusch, who gave up five runs on six hits in six innings. He struck out six, and walked three.
Minnesota Crookston tallied six hits, but also chipped in four walks. Debilzen went 2-of-4, with two runs scored. Dykhoff went 1-of-3, with two RBI, and two runs scored. Satrom was 1-of-4, with an RBI, and a run tallied. Aaron Wensloff went 1-of-4, with two RBI.
Dykhoff set the table in the first with a two-run shot over the fence, scoring Debilzen to make it 2-0.
In the third stanza, Satrom singled, driving in Debilzen to push the advantage to 3-0. Minnesota Crookston took a 5-0 lead later in the third with a two RBI double from Aaron Wensloff, driving in Dykhoff, and Satrom.
Concordia-St. Paul got two runs back in the sixth with an Eric Berg home run, scoring Charlie Harms. However Minnesota Crookston was able to shut the door the rest of the way to pick up the sweep.
The Golden Eagles conclude the series Friday, March 28 at 12 and 2 p.m., at the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, S.D.
