SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston split a Monday doubleheader with the University of Sioux Falls Monday, April 13 at Sioux Falls Stadium in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles edged the Cougars 4-3 led by clutch hitting and strong pitching. In game two, USF scored five runs in the fourth to earn an 8-3 win. 

The Golden Eagles are 21-13 (14-8 NSIC) after Monday's split. The games were originally set to take place in Crookston, but were moved due to inclement weather in the Red River Valley. USF sits at 18-16 (14-7 NSIC) after Monday's split. The Cougars hold a 3-2 edge in the last five games over Minnesota Crookston.

Game One

The Golden Eagles fended off a late charge by the Cougars to take the first game 4-3. Cole Hebl (R-So., 1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) laced a single through the left side to drive in Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) for the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth.

Isaac Wensloff (Sr., RHP, Roseau, Minn.) continued his quality starts for the Golden Eagles, by tossing 5.2 innings and allowing three runs on nine hits. Wensloff struck out three, and walked two. Joey Connelly (Sr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) improved to 1-2 with a win in relief, throwing 0.1 innings of scoreless baseball. Isaac Roers (R-Sr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn his second save of the 2026 slate.

The loss went to USF's Brady Baur, who dropped to 4-2, giving up four runs on eight hits in six frames. Baur struck out six, and walked one. 

Sculati paced the Golden Eagles, hitting 2-of-3 with two runs scored. Aaron Wensloff (Jr., IF, Roseau, Minn.) was 1-of-1 with an RBI and two runs scored, while Hebl was 3-of-3 with three RBI. 

The Cougars jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first with a Mitch Iliff solo shot over the right field fence.

Minnesota Crookston leaped ahead with a Hebl single down the line, scoring Aaron Wensloff, and Sculati to make it 2-1. The Golden Eagles extended their lead in the fourth with an Aaron Wensloff solo slam to extend the lead to 3-1.

USF responded in the top of the sixth. A Casey Sehr single drove in Drew Miller to cut the deficit to 3-2. Dominic Vogel then walked with the bases full, plating Sehr to knot the score 3-3.

Hebl came through in the bottom of the sixth with a base-knock to drive in Sculati and deliver a 4-3 win for the Golden Eagles.

Game Two
The Cougars were lifted by five runs in the fourth inning as they took down the Golden Eagles 8-3 in the second game. The game was called due to lightning and darkness, officially after the sixth inning despite the game ending in the middle of the seventh frame.

Nate Benning (Jr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) started and fell to 3-2 with the loss, allowing five total runs, but only one earned, on seven hits. He struck out one, and walked two. Kaylor Chamberlain (So., RHP, Mankato, Minn.) gave up two runs on four hits in one inning. Braden Nelson (R-Fr., RHP, Minot, N.D.) pitched a scoreless third of an inning, while Lake Hagen (Jr., RHP, Alexandria, Minn.) allowed one run on two hits in one stanza.

The win went to Logan Anderson, who pitched a complete six innings, giving up three unearned runs on four hits.

Tori Uhlich (Jr., OF, Wahpeton, N.D.) went 1-of-3, with an RBI. Hebl had a strong day, finishing 1-of-3 to go with his game one performance, notching a run scored. Aaron Wensloff also went 1-of-3, with a run scored. 

The Golden Eagles opened the game with a 1-0 lead in the first as Aaron Wensloff scored on a passed ball.

Sioux Falls took an advantage in the top of the fourth, scoring five runs. A Jackson Yeager double, drove in Miller to tie the game 1-1. Yeager scored on a Nolan Drossel fielder's choice as USF took a 2-1 lead. William Edwards broke open the game 5-1 with a three-run shot, scoring Drossel, and Dominic Vogel.

The Golden Eagles fought back in the bottom of the fourth. Hebl scored when Miller reached on an error to trim the deficit to 5-2. A Uhlich double scored Caden Kappes (Jr., IF, Wahpeton, N.D.) to bring the tally within 5-3.

In the fifth, Drossel utilized a single to plate Casey Sehr, and Cullen Verville to extend the lead to 7-3. Iliff scored on a Miller groundout to give the Cougars a final tally of 8-3. 

Uhlich had a stolen base in the first game Monday to officially break Will Zimmerman's stolen base record in a single season with 22 in 2026. 

Minnesota Crookston remains on the road, as they trek to the University of Mary Wednesday, April 15 at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.