Baseball | 5/2/2025 8:39:00 PM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team dropped a doubleheader Saturday, May 3 to Northern State University at the Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field. The Golden Eagles fell 9-7 in the first game, and were defeated in a run-rule game 20-9 in the second tilt.
Minnesota Crookston baseball falls to 22-27 (19-20 NSIC) with Friday's doubleheader loss. Northern State improved to 15-31 (11-28 NSIC) with the sweep. The Golden Eagles are in eighth place and have a big game Saturday to decide their fate with the NSIC Tournament. A win and the Golden Eagles will go to their seventh NSIC Tournament in 10 years. A loss and win by Winona State University over Wayne State College would mean Winona State would get the bid over the Golden Eagles, as they split with the Golden Eagles but picked up a win over top-ranked Minnesota State University April 9. The Golden Eagles hold the tiebreaker over Southwest Minnesota State University.
Game One
Northern State scored two runs in the top of the seventh to break a 7-7 tie and secure a 9-7 win in the first game of the doubleheader against the Golden Eagles.
Nate Benning (So., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) started and went 4.2 innings, allowing five runs on five hits with five strikeouts, and two walks. Isaac Roers (R-Jr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) allowed two runs on three hits in 0.2 frames. Caden Edwards (R-Sr., LHP, Duluth, Minn.) suffered the loss, allowing one earned run on two hits in 1.2 innings.
Quentin Culbertson got the win, tossing two innings and allowing just one run. Daulton Vanderloo picked up his fourth save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit.
Dylan Debilzen (Fr., OF, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) continued his strong season, hitting 2-of-3 with a run scored. Brock Larsen (R-Jr., C/1B, Blaine, Minn.) went 1-of-2, with two RBI. Aaron Wensloff (So., IF/OF, Roseau, Minn.) finished 2-of-3, with a run scored.
The Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the first with a Drew Benson two-run home run, scoring Nick Friedges.
Northern State extended the lead to 3-0 with a Jordan Hull RBI single to plate Nicholas Ochoa.
Minnesota Crookston responded in the third with a Debilzen triple to plate Caden Kappes (So., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.). The Golden Eagles pulled within 3-2 with a Larsen sacrifice fly to score Debilzen.
The Golden Eagles rallied again in the fourth, when Kappes walked with the bases loaded to plate Aaron Wensloff. Later in the fourth, Debilzen reached on an error and Kobe Senn (Sr., IF, Fargo, N.D.) and Danny Wensloff (R-Sr., OF/C, Roseau, Minn.) came around to score to make it 5-3.
Northern State countered in the fifth with two runs. Friedges tripled to plate Brennan Phillips to cut it to 5-4. A Benson single brought in Friedges to tie it 5-5.
Minnesota Crookston tilted the lead in their favor with a Senn sacrifice fly to score Josh Dykhoff (Jr., RHP/DH, Wadena, Minn.) to make it 6-5.
Northern State took a 7-6 advantage with a Phillips triple to bring around Kyle Konechne, and Dillon Castellanos.
Minnesota Crookston responded and tied the tilt 7-7 in the sixth with a Larsen single to score Kappes.
Northern State had the final say in the seventh with an Ochoa triple to score Casey Vining, and a Jonah Schmidt double to bring in Ochoa.
The two teams in the first game combined for a rare four triples.
Game Two
Northern State took the second game 20-9 led by crooked innings in the fourth and seventh innings with six and seven runs respectively. The Golden Eagles made a late charge to try to extend the game after notching five runs in the bottom of the seventh, but fell short of overcoming the run-rule.
Kyle Odenbach (Jr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.) started and went 1.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits in the loss. The Golden Eagles used six relief pitchers. Aaron Bennett (R-So., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) had the best outing, allowing no runs in 0.2 frames.
Palmer Boyd earned the win, allowing one run on three hits in three stanzas. Daulton Vanderloo shut the door in the seventh.
Debilzen paced the U of M Crookston hitting 3-of-5, with two RBI. Satrom was 2-of-5, with a run scored. Aaron Wensloff went 3-of-3, with three RBI and two runs scored.
Northern State was lifted by four RBI from Jack Weidner, and three from Friedges, and Hull.
The Golden Eagles wrap up the regular season with Senior Day Saturday, May 3 at 12 p.m., against the Wolves.
