COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team edged the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs 6-4 Saturday, February 7 at Mountain Lion Park in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Golden Eagles relied on two home runs from Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) and one from Cole Hebl (R-So., 1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) to earn the win.

Minnesota Crookston improved to 1-1 with the win, while UC-Colorado Springs fell to 2-3. The Golden Eagles are 2-3 all-time against the Mountain Lions.

The Golden Eagles turned to Kyle Odenbach (Sr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.) in start. He tossed four innings, allowing four runs on four hits. He struck out one, and walked three. Nate Heymann (Jr., OF/RHP, Waimea, Hawai'i) picked up his first win as a Golden Eagle. Heymann went three scoreless innings, allowing just two hits, and striking out four. Carsen Barta (R-So., RHP, Fargo, N.D.) got the save, tossing two scoreless innings. Barta allowed one hit, striking out one.

The loss for the Mountain Lions went to Gerrit Erickson, who gave up three runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. In the start, Jacob Brown went five innings and allowed three runs on six hits.

Minnesota Crookston notched 14 hits. Sculati paced the squad, going 4-of-5, with four RBIs and two runs scored. Tori Uhlich (Jr., OF, Wahpeton, N.D.) set the tone from leadoff spot, hitting 3-of-5 with two runs scored. Hebl finished 2-of-4, with a run scored and an RBI. Kyler Miller (So., SS, Grand Rapids, Minn.) went 2-of-4. Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) finished 2-of-4, with a run scored. 

Uhlich and Bushbaum opened the first inning with consecutive singles. Uhlich scored on an Aaron Wensloff groundout to put the Golden Eagles ahead 1-0. Bushbaum crossed the plate on a Sculati groundout, extending the advantage to 2-0.

A Trevor Dale solo shot brought the Mountain Lions within 2-1 in the bottom of the second.

UC-Colorado Springs took the lead in the bottom of the third. A sacrifice fly from Quinn Medin scored Cayden Gonzalez to even the game 2-2. The Mountain Lions took a 3-2 advantage on a Tyson Mayberry groundout, plating Tyler Genrich.

Minnesota Crookston knotted the tilt 3-3 with a Sculati solo home run in the fourth frame. The Mountain Lions took the lead 4-3 with Dale's second home run of the game in the bottom of the fourth. 

The Golden Eagles took the upper hand in the top of the sixth. A Sculati solo home run, his second of the tilt, tied the game 4-4. Minnesota Crookston took the 5-4 lead with a Hebl solo shot. 

Minnesota Crookston pushed the lead to 6-4 with a Sculati single, scoring Uhlich. The tally held, as Minnesota Crookston won the game 6-4.

The Golden Eagles finish will have the rubber game in the series with the Mountain Lions Sunday, February 8 at 1 p.m. C.T.