Baseball | 2/3/2026 2:06:00 PM
CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team is set to commence the 2026 season with a three-game set at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Friday, February 6, Saturday, February 7, and Sunday, February 8 at Mountain Lion Park in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Golden Eagles will play the Mountain Lions 2 p.m. M.T. Friday, 12 p.m. M.T. Saturday, and 12 p.m. M.T. Sunday.
Minnesota Crookston at UC-Colorado Springs
Friday, Feb. 6, 2 p.m. M.T.
Saturday, Feb. 7, 12 p.m. M.T.
Sunday, Feb. 8, 12 p.m. M.T.
Mountain Lion Park, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Live Stats - https://gomountainlions.com/sidearmstats/baseball/summary
Live Video ($) - https://rmacnetwork.com/gomountainlions/
The Golden Eagles are looking to build on their continued success as they open the 2026 slate. Minnesota Crookston is in their 12th season under Head Coach Steve Gust. The Golden Eagles have seven NSIC Tournament appearances, and eight 20-win seasons in the last 10 years. Minnesota Crookston is coming off a 23-29 (20-20 NSIC) mark and a NSIC Tournament appearance in 2025.
Minnesota Crookston
Top Returners
Jr. 1B/3B 17 Aaron Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., .308, 34 R, 13 2B, 8 HR, 36 RBI
R-Sr. OF 6 Americo Sculati, Golden Valley, Minn., .273, 34 R, 12 2B, 4 3B, 7 HR, 32 RBI
R-Sr. OF 21 Connor Bushbaum, Saginaw, Minn., .250, 19 R, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI
So. SS 5 Kyler Miller, Grand Rapids, Minn., .250, 23 R, 3 2B, 3 HR, 14 RBI
Jr. 2B/SS 1 Caden Kappes, Wahpeton, N.D., .172, 13 R, 2 2B, 9 RBI
R-So. 1B/OF 24 Cole Hebl, Hillsboro, N.D., .300, 1 RBI
R-Jr. C 13 Jonah Norman, Winnipeg, Manitoba, .200, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
R-So. C 23 Jackson Fliflet, Wahpeton, N.D., .500, 2 AB
Top Pitchers
Sr. RHP 3 Isaac Wensloff, Roseau, Minn., 4-2 4.81 ERA, 58.0 IP, 10 Starts, 40 K, 20 BB
Jr. LHP 37 Nate Benning, Browerville, Minn., 3-4 6.59 ERA, 56.0 IP, 13 Starts, 42 K, 26 BB
R-Sr. RHP 16 Isaac Roers, Stacy, Minn., 6-4 5.77 ERA, 48.1 IP, 27 Appearances, 43 K, 14 BB
Sr. LHP 8 Kyle Odenbach, Thompson, N.D., 1-7 7.92 ERA, 44.1 IP, 12 Starts, 37 K, 19 BB
R-Jr. RHP 30 Jaxson Bennett, Saginaw, Minn., 0-0 13.03 ERA, 9.2 IP, 3 K, 7 BB
Sr. LHP 39 Joey Connelly, Eden Prairie, Minn., 0-0 2.08 ERA, 8.2 IP, 10 K, 5 BB
Minnesota Crookston will have a balance of returners, and newcomers looking to contribute in 2026. The Golden Eagles hit .275 as a team in 2025, with 330 runs scored, 46 home runs, and 292 RBI. Minnesota Crookston returns four starters from last season. Aaron Wensloff is back after swinging .308 with 34 runs scored, eight home runs, and 36 RBI. Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) returns after hitting .273, with seven home runs, and 32 RBI. Kyler Miller (So., SS, Grand Rapids, Minn.) made an instant impact as a freshman, batting .250, with 23 runs scored, and 14 RBI, while Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) is back for his final season after hitting .250, with 19 runs scored, and 18 RBI. Minnesota Crookston will have a host of transfers and freshmen competing for time at other spots.
On the mound, the Golden Eagles have three returners at starting pitcher. Isaac Wensloff (Sr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) leads the way after being a reliable arm throughout his career. Wensloff was 4-2 with a 4.81 ERA in 58 innings, with 40 strikeouts, and 20 walks. Southpaw Nate Benning (Jr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) has been a consistent player in the rotation his first two years. He was 3-4 in 56 innings, with 42 strikeouts as a sophomore. Kyle Odenbach returns after appearing in 44.1 innings, with 37 strikeouts. In the bullpen, Isaac Roers (R-Sr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) has had a rubber arm, appearing 27 times in 2025. He went 6-4 with a 5.77 ERA in 48.1 innings. Lefty Joey Connelly (Sr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) had a strong season in 2025, with a 2.08 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched, with 10 strikeouts.
UC-Colorado Springs
Projected Starters
R-Jr. C 39 Tyler Buchman, .111, 1 R
Or R-Fr. C 40 Cayden Gonzalez, .250, 1 R
R-So. 1B 29 Tyler Genrich, .500, 3 R, 2 2B, 1 RBI
Sr. 2B 20 Bryce Peterson, .615, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 6 RBI
R-Jr. 3B 24 Trevor Dale, .556, 5 R, 1 3B, 4 HR, 8 RBI
Gr. SS 11 Robert Vandegrift, .333, 2 R, 1 HR, 4 RBI
Jr. LF 25 Tyson Mayberry, .500, 5 R, 1 2B, 4 RBI
Sr. CF 1 Quinn Medin, .273, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 RBI
Jr. RF 21 Brendan Killeen, .333, 1 R
Sr. DH/RF 30 Nolan Oliver, .222, 2 R, 1 RBI
Or R-Jr. DH 16 James Harbison, .250, 1 RBI
Top Pitchers
R-Sr. RHP 44 Gerrit Erickson, 1-0 1.80 ERA, 5.0 IP, 3 K, 2 BB
Sr. RHP 42 Ryder Mancuso, 0-1 12.27 ERA, 3.2 IP, 4 K, 1 BB
Sr. RHP 47 Jason Fink, 0-1 15.00 ERA, 3.0 IP, 2 K, 2 BB
So. RHP 49 Jacob Brown, 0-0 0.00 ERA, 2.0 IP, 2 K, 0 BB
Sr. LHP 23 Benjamin Ruckman, 0-0 4.50 ERA, 2.0 IP, 1 K, 1 BB
Sr. LHP 45 Nick Miszuk, 0-0 0.00 ERA, 1.1 IP, 0 K, 1 BB
Jr. RHP 43 Mason Hartle, 0-0 0.00 ERA, 1.0 IP, 1 K, 2 BB
The University of Colorado-Colorado Springs enters the weekend with a 1-2 mark. The Mountain Lions went 1-2 against Fort Hays State University. The Mountain Lions have a 12.91 ERA in 23 innings, with 19 strikeouts and 18 walks. Gerrit Erickson is 1-0 with a 1.80 ERA in five innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. Jacob Brown comes in with a 0.00 ERA in two innings out of the bullpen, while Benjamin Ruckman has a 4.50 ERA in two innings out of the bullpen. Ryder Mancuso and Jason Fink started the other two games for the Mountain Lion.
UC-Colorado Springs is strong at the plate, hitting .392 with 29 runs scored, five doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 27 RBI. The Mountain Lions have a .492 on-base percentage and 1.224 OPS. UC-Colorado Springs is guided by Bryce Peterson with a .615 average, with four runs scored, two home runs, and six RBI. Trevor Dale is batting .556, with five runs scored, four home runs, and eight RBI. Tyson Mayberry comes in swinging .500, with five runs scored, and four RBI.
Travel Roster (Players with Eligible Numbers to Play)
Catchers
R-Fr. C 10 Dylan Alexander, Glenwood, Minn.
R-Jr. C 13 Jonah Norman, Winnipeg, Manitoba
R-So. C 23 Jackson Fliflet, Wahpeton, N.D.
R-Fr. C 19 John Albrecht, Barrington, Ill.
R-Jr. C 41 Isaac Telle, East Grand Forks, Minn.
Infielders
Jr. IF 1 Caden Kappes, Wahpeton, N.D.
Fr. IF 2 Thomas Schumacher, Thompson, N.D.
So. IF 5 Kyler Miller, Grand Rapids, Minn.
R-So. IF 7 Cam Justice, Bemidji, Minn.
R-So. IF 11 Jaiden Smith, Aberdeen, S.D.
R-Fr. IF 15 Jackson Baeth, Devils Lake, N.D.
Jr. IF 17 Aaron Wensloff, Roseau, Minn.
R-So. IF 24 Cole Hebl, Hillsboro, N.D.
Fr. IF 28 Noah Jensen, Glenwood, Minn.
Jr. IF 33 Terrence Moody, Sauk Rapids, Minn.
Outfielders
Jr. OF 4 Tori Uhlich, Wahpeton, N.D.
R-Sr. OF 6 Americo Sculati, Golden Valley, Minn.
Jr. OF 20 Nate Heymann, Waimea, Hawai'i
R-Sr. OF 21 Connor Bushbaum, Saginaw, Minn.
So. OF 26 Landon Hanson, Bemidji, Minn.
Fr. OF 27 Jack Hansen, Mankato, Minn.
Fr. OF 29 Elias Leach, Plymouth, Minn.
Fr. OF 42 Cameron Dean, Maple Grove, Minn.
Pitchers
Sr. RHP 3 Isaac Wensloff, Roseau, Minn.
Sr. LHP 8 Kyle Odenbach, Thompson, N.D.
Fr. RHP 9 Asher Blaine, Frazee, Minn.
So. RHP 12 Kaylor Chamberlain, Mankato, Minn.
R-Jr. RHP 14 Aaron Bennett, Saginaw, Minn.
R-Sr. RHP 16 Isaac Roers, Stacy, Minn.
So. LHP 18 Jake Jaroszewski, Fargo, N.D.
Fr. RHP 25 Jaxon Hams, Thief River Falls, Minn.
R-Jr. RHP 30 Jaxson Bennett, Saginaw, Minn.
Fr. RHP 31 Bodhi Mossestad, Thief River Falls, Minn.
Fr. LHP 32 Ashton Detloff, Perham, Minn.
R-So. RHP 34 Carsen Barta, Fargo, N.D.
R-Jr. LHP 35 Eli Denisen, Winona, Minn.
R-Fr. RHP 36 Derek Carpenter, Hatton, N.D.
Jr. LHP 37 Nate Benning, Browerville, Minn.
R-Fr. RHP 38 Braden Nelson, Minot, N.D.
Sr. LHP 39 Joey Connelly, Eden Prairie, Minn.
Jr. RHP 40 Lake Hagen, Alexandria, Minn.
