COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Tyler Genrich laced an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th to drive in the winning run for a walk-off 9-8 victory for the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs over the University of Minnesota Crookston. The tilt was the opening game for the Golden Eagles as they lifted the lid on the 2026 season. It was also the opening meeting of a three-game set for the Golden Eagles and Mountain Lions at Mountain Lion Park in Colorado Springs, Colo.
UC-Colorado Springs overcame an 8-5 deficit in the ninth inning to pick up the extra inning victory over Minnesota Crookston. The Golden Eagles dropped to 0-1 on the season, while the Mountain Lions improved to 2-2. Minnesota Crookston is 1-3 all-time against UC-Colorado Springs.
Isaac Roers (R-Sr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) got the ball for game one of the set. Roers tossed four innings, allowing three runs on six hits. He struck out six, and had no walks. Ashton Detloff (Fr., LHP, Perham, Minn.) made his collegiate debut, throwing one inning and allowing no runs on one hit. Isaac Wensloff (Sr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) threw 3.1 innings of relief, allowing two earned runs on three hits. He struck out one, and walked one. Jaxon Hams (Fr., RHP, Thief River Falls, Minn.) allowed two runs on one hit in his collegiate debut. Aaron Bennett (R-Jr., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) suffered the loss after allowing one run on two hits.
Jason FInk started for the Mountain Lions, throwing 4.2 innings and allowing five runs on six hits. He struck out seven, and walked three. Joe McDermott allowed three runs on four hits in 1.2 innings. Nick Miszuk tossed a scoreless 1.2 innings, while Brett Woytek threw a scoreless 1.1 innings. The win went to Mason Hartle, who threw a scoreless 0.2 innings.
Minnesota Crookston notched 13 hits Friday. Cole Hebl (R-So., 1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) paced the Golden Eagle, going 4-of-6, with four RBI and two runs scored. Jackson Fliflet (R-So., C, Wahpeton, N.D.) went 2-of-4, with an RBI, and a run scored. Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) finished 2-of-5, with an RBI, and a run scored. Nate Heymann (Jr., OF, Waimea, Hawai'i) went 1-of-4, with one RBI and two runs scored.
The Golden Eagles opened the top of the first with three runs. Sculati drove in Tori Uhlich (Jr., OF, Wahpeton, N.D.) with a groundout to make it 1-0. Hebl proceeded to single up the middle, plating Heymann, and Aaron Wensloff (Jr., IF, Roseau, Minn.) to push the lead to 3-0.
The Mountain Lions evened the slate 3-3 with a Nolan Oliver three-run home run, driving in Quinn Medin, and Bryce Peterson.
The Golden Eagles took the 4-3 advantage on a Fliflet solo shot in the top of the second.
In the fifth, Elias Leach (Fr., OF, Plymouth, Minn.) drove one to center field, plating Hebl to extend the lead to 5-3.
A Genrich double down the line, brought in Brendan Killeen and Robert Vandegrift to tie the game 5-5 in the bottom of the sixth.
Minnesota Crookston took the lead back 6-5 with a Heymann solo home run. Hebl followed suit with a two-run shot, scoring himself and Sculati to push the lead to 8-5.
The Golden Eagles led 8-5 going into the bottom of the ninth. Tyler Buchman hit a solo home run to pull the Mountain Lions within 8-6. A double down the line by Oliver, scored Medin, and Matthew Shipley to knot the game 8-8 and force extra innings.
UC-Colorado Springs took the walk-off win with the Genrich single in the bottom of the 10th, scoring Trevor Dale to give the Mountain Lions a 9-8 win.
Minnesota Crookston faces UC-Colorado Springs for the second game of the series Saturday, February 7 at 1 p.m. C.T. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
