CROOKSTON, Minn. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team earned an important sweep with a 10-5 victory over Northern State University Sunday, March 29 at the Minnesota Crookston Baseball Field. The Golden Eagles had great starting pitching all weekend with Nate Benning (Jr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) earning Sunday's victory.
The Golden Eagles improved to 17-10 (10-5 NSIC) with the victory Sunday. Northern State dropped to 7-13 (5-10 NSIC). Minnesota Crookston is in fourth place after the weekend sweep of the Wolves. Northern State is tied for 11th. The Golden Eagles have won six straight. Minnesota Crookston is 15-2 against the Wolves since April 28, 2021.
Benning improved to 3-0 with Sunday's victory. The southpaw hurled six innings, allowing two runs on three hits. Benning struck out six, and walked two. After allowing 11 earned runs in the first two games, Benning has been steady for Minnesota Crookston in his last six outings, as the Golden Eagles are 5-1 in games he threw. He has allowed just 12 earned runs in 29.1 innings in his last six appearances, for a 3.71 ERA. Kaylor Chamberlain (So., RHP, Mankato, Minn.) tossed a scoreless seventh with no runs on no hits, as he continues to be effective out of the bullpen. Nate Heymann (Jr., RHP, Waimea, Hawai'i) allowed two runs on three hits in one frame. Joey Connelly (Sr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) allowed one run on one hit in the ninth.
Hyunwoo Kim had a strong start for Northern State, but was saddled with the loss. He allowed three unearned runs on five hits in six innings. Kim struck out seven, and walked five. The Wolves gave up eight unearned runs with three errors Sunday.
Minnesota Crookston found ways on to the base paths, with nine hits and eight walks. Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) continued a strong weekend, hitting 2-of-3, with an RBI and two runs scored. Jackson Fliflet (R-So., C, Wahpeton, N.D.) went 2-of-4, with two RBI and two runs scored. Caden Kappes (Jr., 2B/SS, Wahpeton, N.D.) finished 2-of-3, with two RBI. Elias Leach (Fr., OF, Plymouth, Minn.) went 2-of-5, with two runs scored.
The Golden Eagles jumped on the gas early on with three runs in the bottom of the first. A Sculati single with the bases loaded scored Tori Uhlich (Jr., OF, Wahpeton, N.D.) to give Minnesota Crookston a 1-0 advantage. Fliflet hit a sacrifice fly to score Leach to make it 2-0. Aaron Wensloff (Jr., IF, Roseau, Minn.) scored on a balk to extend the lead to 3-0.
The game remained 3-0 until the top of the fifth. Kyle Konechne came through with a two-run home run, scoring Andrew Niaves to trim the deficit to 3-2.
The Golden Eagles added to their lead in the bottom of the seventh. Fliflet doubled to center field, plating Sculati to widen the gap to 4-2. Fliflet scored on a balk to push the lead to 5-2.
Northern State made a charge in the top of the eighth. A two-run shot from Casey Vining, plating Dylan Soulek to trim the deficit to 5-4.
Minneota Crookston padded their lead in the bottom of the eighth with the bases loaded and two outs, Fliflet reached on an error, scoring Uhlich to extend the advantage to 6-4. Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) walked with the bases juiced to plate Leach and push the lead to 7-4. Kappes delivered a two RBI single, driving in Fliflet, and Sculati to push the edge to 9-4. Kappes stole second, and Bushbaum crossed on the throw to make it 10-4.
The Wolves got a run back in the top of the ninth when Dillon Castellanos came across on a wild pitch. However, Connelly shut the door with the final out as Northern State fell 10-5.
Minnesota Crookston heads to Minnesota Duluth for a three-game series Friday, April 3 and Saturday, April 4 in Duluth, Minn. The Bulldogs are 8-19 (6-9 NSIC) entering the weekend.
