CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team earned a split Wednesday, April 9 with a 2-0 loss to Minot State University, and a commanding 13-2 run-rule victory over the Beavers.
The Golden Eagles sit at 14-18 (11-11 NSIC) after Wednesday's split in Crookston. Minot State dropped to 13-17 (8-14 NSIC) with the split. Minnesota Crookston is currently in ninth place in the standings. The Golden Eagles have split their last four series. Minnesota Crookston leads the series 8-2 since 2021.
Game One
The Golden Eagles struggled to hit in a 2-0 victory by the Beavers in the first game. Connor Hill got the one-hit combined shutout for Minot State in 5.1 innings.
Minnesota Crookston got strong pitching in the first game, as they allowed just two runs on six hits. Max Weber (R-Sr., RHP, St. Paul, Minn.) made his second career start. He went 3.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits. Weber struck out three, and walked three. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) tossed 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits. He struck out four, and had zero walks.
Ayden Sauerbrai got the save for the Beavers. Allowing no runs in one frame, with two strikeouts.
At the plate, the lone hit came from Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.), who went 1-of-2.
The Beavers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fifth with a Michael Williamson solo shot. They added to their lead in the seventh with a Williamson single to plate Shane Kary.
Game Two
The Golden Eagles set the tone early and didn't let up in a 13-2 run-rule victory in the second game of the doubleheader.
Isaac Wensloff (Jr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) earned the start, and the win. Isaac Wensloff went four scoreless innings, striking out six, and walking one. The southpaw Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) pitched a scoreless inning, with one strikeout. Carsen Barta (So., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) allowed two runs on two hits, with two strikeouts in a stanza. Joey Connelly (Jr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) pitched a scoreless seventh, with two strikeouts.
Jake Seibert lost the game, allowing five runs on six hits. Griffin Shearon gave up three runs on two hits, while Gage Eastlick allowed three earned runs. Devin Marton gave up a run, as well.
Minnesota Crookston pushed out to a 2-0 advantage in the second with a two-run home run by Dykhoff, plating himself, and Brock Larsen. The home run was Dykhoff's team-leading ninth.
The Golden Eagles broke the game open in the fourth with six runs, in what was a lightning delayed inning, seeing a 30-minute pause in the action. Kodi Miller (Sr., C, Grand Rapids, Minn.) sent in the first three runs of the frame, scoring himself, Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N.D.), and Sawyer Satrom (Sr., IF, Portland, N.D.). After the delay, Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.) doubled in Larsen. Dykhoff crossed on a wild pitch for the final tally of the inning, pushing it to 8-0.
Minnesota Crookston added four more runs in the fifth as Minot State committed five errors in the inning. Senn scored on a throwing error to push the lead to 9-0. A Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) double to center field plated Kyler Miller to make it 10-0. Debilzen crossed on a Dykhoff groundout to extend it to 11-0. Sculati rounded it out, by reaching on an error, bringing in Larsen to make it 12-0.
Minot State got two runs back in the sixth with an Oscar Pegg home run, plating himself, and Kekoa Munos.
The Golden Eagles added a final run in the bottom of the sixth with a Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) single, scoring Satrom.
Dykhoff led the way, going 2-of-4, with four RBI, and two runs scored. Larsen was 1-of-1, with three runs scored. Senn finished 2-of-3, with two runs scored. Kodi Miller was 1-of-2, with three RBI, and a run scored. Kyler Miller was 1-of-3, with two RBI.
The Golden Eagles hit the road to face Southwest Minnesota State University in a three-game series Saturday, April 12 and Sunday, April 13 in Marshall, Minn.
