WAYNE, Neb. - The University of Minnesota Crookston fell in a pair of close games in Saturday's doubleheader at the Pete Chapman Complex against Wayne State College. The Wildcats tallied three runs in the top of the seventh to break a tie and win 10-7 in the first game, while used three runs in the top of the 10th to pick an 11-9 extra-inning win in the second tilt.

Minnesota Crookston dropped to 11-10 (4-5 NSIC) with Saturday's doubleheader loss in Nebraska. Wayne State improved to 13-9 (5-4 NSIC) with the pair of victories. The Wildcats earned the series sweep with Saturday's wins. It is the first sweep in the series by either team since the Golden Eagles swept Wayne State in three games in 2023 in Elkhorn, Neb. The Wildcats have not swept the series since 2014 in Crookston. It marks the longest winning streak for Wayne State in the series since a four-game streak from February 22, 2024 until February 22, 2025. The games were relocated to Wayne, Neb., this season due to inclement weather in Crookston.

Game One
The Wildcats were lifted by three runs in the top of the seventh in the 10-7 win in Saturday's first game. Runs from Brayden Chaney and Tyler Lofdahl crossed on an error, while Braden Cannon scored on a sacrifice bunt for the final run of the first tilt.

Both teams struggled with walks in the first tilt, as they combined for 16 walks compared to 12 strikeouts. 

Isaac Roers (R-Sr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) started for Minnesota Crookston and tossed 5.1 innings, allowing four earned runs on four hits. He struck out five, and walked three on over 100 pitches Saturday. Jake Jaroszewski (So., LHP, Fargo, N.D.) allowed one run on three hits in 0.2 innings. Joey Connelly (Sr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) was saddled with his first loss of the season, allowing three unearned runs on one hit. Connelly walked three batters. Jaxon Hams (Fr., RHP, Thief River Falls, Minn.) faced one batter and got him out in the first tilt.

The win for Wayne State went to Drew Lieser, who allowed no runs on no hits in one inning of relief. Lieser struck out one. Clement Febus started and gave up three runs on three hits, with one strikeout and five walks. Braden Cannon picked up his fifth save of the season, allowing no runs on one hit. He struck out one, and walked one.

Minnesota Crookston notched six hits in the first game, but reached on 10 walks. The Golden Eagles left 11 runners on base in the Saturday opener. Tori Uhlich (Jr., OF, Wahpeton, N.D.) went 2-of-5, with three RBI. Elias Leach (Fr., OF/LHP, Plymouth, Minn.) has been a stand-out as a freshman, batting 1-of-2, with one run scored. Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) hit 1-of-3, with one run scored. Jackson Fliflet (R-So., C, Wahpeton, N.D.) finished 1-of-2, with one run scored, and two walks.

Wayne State commenced the game with a Nate Cunningham single to center field, driving in Max Heard, and Cam Madsen to put the Wildcats ahead 2-0 in the top of the first. Later in the frame, Cunningham and Gabe Monosmith scored on a throwing error by the pitcher Roers to extend the lead to 4-0.

Minnesota Crookston cut into the deficit 4-1 in the bottom of the second when Uhlich singled to left field, plating Caden Kappes (Jr., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.). 

In the third, Sculati crossed on a wild pitch to trim the Wayne State lead to 4-2. Later in the third, Aaron Wensloff (Jr., IF, Roseau, Minn.) scored when Thomas Schumacher (Fr., IF, Thompson, N.D.) reached on an error to pull within 4-3. The Golden Eagles took the lead 5-4 with a two RBI base-knock from Uhlich, driving in Fliflet and Kappes. Minnesota Crookston culminated the onslaught in the third when Schumacher crossed on a wild pitch to push the advantage to 6-4.

The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 7-4 in the fifth when Cole Hebl (R-So., IF, Hillsboro, N.D.) reached on a throwing error, bringing in Leach.

Minnesota Crookston ran into some trouble in the top of the sixth. A Tony Coniglio double down the line brought in Chaney to chop the lead down to 7-5. A Heard sacrifice fly plated Coniglio to bring Wayne State within 7-6. The Wildcats cinched the score 7-7 on a Cunningham infield single, driving in Madsen.

The Golden Eagles were retired in order in the bottom of the sixth. Wayne State responded with three runs in the top of the seventh. Beginning with Cannon's bunt single, and a throwing error to score Chaney and Lofdahl to make it 9-7. The Wildcats took a 10-7 advantage with a Madsen sacrifice bunt plating Cannon.

Minnesota Crookston put the first two runners of the bottom of the seventh on base with a Fliflet double and a Schumacher walk. Wayne State's Cannon retired the next three batters to earn the save and preserve the 10-7 win.

Game Two

The Golden Eagles forced extra innings in the bottom of the ninth with four runs in a major comeback. However, Wayne State responded with three runs in the top of the 10th to claim the 11-9 win.

Nate Benning (Jr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) had a productive start tossing 6.2 innings and allowing four runs on seven hits. Benning put the Golden Eagles in a position to win, striking out three and walking one. Braden Nelson (R-Fr., RHP, Minot, N.D.) ran into some trouble in the eighth, allowing four runs on three hits in one inning. Nelson walked one. Lake Hagen (Jr., RHP, Alexandria, Minn.) picked up the loss, allowing two runs on three hits in 1.1 frames. Hams appeared for the second time of the day, giving up one run on one hit in one stanza.

The win went to Cannon, who earned a save in the first game. Cannon allowed one earned run on three hits in 1.2 innings, with three strikeouts for the Wildcats. Wayne State's Matthias Trondson started Saturday's finale, giving up three earned runs on four hits. He struck out three and walked three.

Leach guided Minnesota Crookston, going 4-of-5 with two RBIs and one run scored. Uhlich was 2-of-6 with three runs scored. Wensloff went 2-of-5 with four RBIs and one run scored, while Schumacher went 1-of-3 with one run scored. The Golden Eagles finished with 13 hits in the finale.

Wayne State opened the game in the top of the first with a base hit from Cunningham, bringing in Madsen to make it 1-0. Minnesota Crookston got the run back in the bottom of the first with a Leach double plating Uhlich to knot the game 1-1.

Wayne State took a 2-1 lead in the second with a Casey Prychak single, bringing in Chaney.

Minnesota Crookston countered with two runs in the bottom of the third. Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) used a base-knock to score Schumacher and tie the game 2-2. Wensloff singled through the left side to plate Fliflet to give the Golden Eagles a 3-2 advantage.

Wayne State knotted the game 3-3 in the fifth with a Coniglio solo shot.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Golden Eagles responded with a Bushbaum sacrifice fly to score Uhlich to go up 4-3.

In the seventh, Wayne State tied the game with a Heard single, scoring Coniglio.

The Wildcats used a big frame in the eighth with four runs. An Easton Mains infield base-knock scored Lofdahl to give Wayne State a 5-4 edge. Madsen followed it up with a single to bring in Mains and Cannon to give the Wildcats a 7-4 advantage. A Heard base hit scored Madsen to put Wayne State up 8-4.

Minnesota Crookston responded in the bottom of the ninth. Wensloff responded in a big way as he went yard over the fence in left center, driving in Fliflet and Leach to pull the Golden Eagles within 8-7. Minnesota Crookston bound up the score 8-8 and forced extra innings when Nate Heymann (Jr., OF, Waimea, Hawai'i) reached on a scoring error plating pinch-runner Jack Hansen (Fr., OF, Mankato, Minn.).

Wayne State responded with eight runs in the top of the 10th. Prychak lumbered one over the fence to give the Wildcats a 9-8 lead. Mains scored on a wild pitch to extend the edge to 10-8. Madsen also crossed on a wild pitch to push the lead to 11-8.

Minnesota Crookston opened the bottom of the 10th with a Uhlich single. The freshman Leach came through with a double down the line, plating Uhlich to cut the deficit to 11-9. Cannon was able to deliver again, retiring the final three batters to preserve the 11-9 win.

The Golden Eagles are set for a three-game set in Jamestown, N.D., their first conference meetings with new NSIC member University of Jamestown Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 in Jamestown, N.D.