DAVENPORT, Fla. - Rockhurst University scored four runs in the top of the eighth to upend the University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team 5-4 Friday, March 7 at North East Regional Park in Davenport, Fla. The Golden Eagles led 4-1 going into the top of the eighth before the big frame for the Hawks.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 5-7 (3-1 NSIC) with Friday's loss. Rockhurst improved to 9-3 with the win. The Hawks have won the last three games in the series, with Minnesota Crookston's last win coming in 2016. 

Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) had his best start of the season, tossing five innings. Benning allowed an unearned run, on five hits. He struck out three, and walked two. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) pitched two solid innings out of the bullpen, putting up a zero on the scoreboard. He struck out one, and allowed just one hit. Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) allowed four runs, on four hits in 0.2 innings in the loss. Nate Grafsgaard (R-Sr., RHP, Devils Lake, N.D.) allowed no runs on one hit in 1.1 innings. He struck out three, and had zero walks.

Michael Laudando started the game for the Hawks, tossing seven innings. He allowed just three earned runs, on 11 hits. Laudando struck out six, and walked two, earning his third victory. The save went to Brandon Hebrank, who pitched two innings. He allowed no runs, striking out one, and walking one. 

Minnesota Crookston notched 11 hits. They were led by Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.), who went 3-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored. Josh Dykhoff (Jr., DH, Wadena, Minn.) was 2-of-5, with a run scored. Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N.D.) went 1-of-4, with a run scored. Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) finished 1-of-3, with a run scored. 

The Golden Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Debilzen scored on an attempt to catch Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.) stealing second. 

Minnesota Crookston had potential in the bottom of the fourth. Dykhoff led the inning off with a single, but was out trying to advance the single into a double. WIth one out, Aaron Wensloff struck a ball to right field for a double. However, Laudando pitched out of the inning to keep the score with the Golden Eagles leading 1-0.

Rockhurst knotted the game 1-1 with a Laudando single, scoring Peyton Clerk in the top of the fifth. Benning got out of the stanza getting Adonis Forte to ground out to second. 

The U of M Crookston loaded the bases in the bottom of the fifth. Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C/1B, Blaine, Minn.) opened the inning by reaching on a walk. WIth one out, Kyler Miller (Fr., IF, Grand Rapids, Minn.) reached on a single. The Golden Eagles loaded the pond with ducks when Debilzen reached on an error. Laudando got out of the inning unscathed, getting Dykhoff to ground out. The score remained 1-1 at the conclusion of the fifth frame. 

The Hawks opened the top of the sixth with back-to-back singles from Andrew Loeffelman, and Avery Garmon. Roers came out of the bullpen to try to get the Golden Eagles out of the stanza. Rockhurst loaded the bags with a Drew Cornelison single to shortstop. Roers struck out Hoyt Bennett, and then got pinch-hitter Luke Scalf to ground into a double play. The tally stayed at 1-1 after the top of the sixth.

Minnesota Crookston took the lead 3-1 when Connor Bushbaum (R-Jr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) singled to right field, bringing in Senn, and Aaron Wensloff. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with two walks when Debilzen reached on four balls. Satrom grounded out to the pitcher to get Rockhurst out of the stanza.

The Golden Eagles extended their advantage to 4-1 when Aaron Wensloff singled in Dykhoff in the bottom of the seventh.

The Hawks put runners on the corners to open the top of the eighth. Forte singled, followed by a Loeffelman base-knock. Garmon singled, driving in Forte to trim the deficit to 4-2. Edwards got Cornelison to ground into a double play. Hoyt Bennett walked with two outs to give Rockhurst runners on the corners. Austin Murray hit an infield single, plating Loeffelman to cut the Golden Eagle lead to 4-3. Pinch-hitter Afton Koch hit an RBI double, driving in Bennett, and Murray to take a 5-4 advantage off Grafsgaard. Grafsgaard got the final out of the stanza, trailing 5-4. 

Grafsgaard struck out the Hawks in order in the top of the ninth to give Minnesota Crookston a chance in the bottom of the ninth. 

Debilzen tried to get the Golden Eagles started in the bottom of the ninth, reaching on a walk. However, Hebrank got out of the frame to preserve the 5-4 win. 

The Golden Eagles continue their Florida excursion Saturday, March 8 with a 9 a.m. C.T., first pitch against Davis & Elkins College in Winter Haven, Fla.