SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston picked up an extra-inning win 9-8 over Augustana University to earn the split after falling 7-3 in the first game of the doubleheader.
The Golden Eagles improved to 26-22 (19-17 NSIC) with Friday's split. Augustana is at 36-13 (29-7 NSIC) after Friday's split at Ronken Field in Sioux Falls, S.D. The Golden Eagles clinched their fourth-straight NSIC Tournament berth. The first time the Golden Eagles have ever made four-straight appearances in the NSIC Tournament. Minnesota Crookston is currently the eight-seed, with a Golden Eagle win Saturday, and a Winona State loss, and a Minot State win, Minnesota Crookston would be the seven-seed. With a Winona State loss and a Minot State loss, the Golden Eagles could jump into the six-seed. With an Augustana win Saturday, and a Minnesota State loss, the Vikings could jump into the top seed.
Game One
The Vikings scored five runs in the third to ignite a 7-3 win in game one of Friday's doublehead in the Queen City of the West. Augustana was lifted by home runs from Troy Berg and Jake Lundquist.
Kyle Odenbach (Sr., LHP, Thompson, N.D.) started for the Golden Eagles, going 2.2 innings, and allowing seven runs on four hits, with two strikeouts, and four walks. Braden Nelson (R-Fr., RHP, Minot, N.D.) tossed 1.1 scoreless frames, on two hits. Aaron Bennett (Sr., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) threw a scoreless frame, while his twin brother Jaxson Bennett (Sr., RHP, Saginaw, Minn.) also notched a scoreless stanza, with two strikeouts.
Ethan Hoffman earned the win for Augustana, notching five frames. He allowed two runs on five hits. Hoffman struck out six, and walked one. Jack Sutton went one stanza, allowing one run on two hits. Jason Bast tossed a scoreless frame, allowing one hit.
The Golden Eagles picked up eight hits. Aaron Wensloff (Jr., IF, Roseau, Minn.) went 3-of-4, with a run scored. Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) hit 1-of-3 with a run scored. Caden Kappes (Jr., 2B/SS, Wahpeton, N.D.) went 1-of-2, with an RBI.Â
Augustana leapt out to a 1-0 advantage with a Berg solo shot in the second. Lundquist followed suit with a home run of his own to push the lead to 2-0.
The Vikings extended their advantage to 4-0 in the third on a Berg double down the line, plating Carter Heinsch, and Nate Soelter. Augie extended their lead as Joshua Koskie walked with the bases loaded, scoring Berg. A Kobe Eikmeier single brought in Lundquist, and Bjorn Lind to widen the gap to 7-0.
Minnesota Crookston got a run back in the fourth when Jackson Fliflet (R-So., C, Wahpeton, N.D.) drove in Aaron Wensloff on a fielder's choice. Later in the stanza, Cole Hebl (R-So., 1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) scored on a wild pitch to cut it to 7-2.Â
In the sixth, a Kappes single to center field drove in Bushbaum to trim the deficit to 7-3. Minnesota Crookston was unable to slice into the lead as they fell 7-3.
Game Two
Jake Jaroszewski (So., LHP, Fargo, N.D.) came on and obtained two major strikeouts in the bottom of the ninth, and Elias Leach (Fr., OF/LHP, Plymouth, Minn.) earned his first career save to send the Golden Eagles to an extra inning victory 9-8 over Augustana.
A Kyler Miller (So., SS, Grand Rapids, Minn.) sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th.
Nate Benning (Jr., LHP, Browerville, Minn.) put the Golden Eagles in great position to win after a great outing. He went six innings, allowing three unearned runs on six hits. Benning struck out one, and walked one. Lake Hagen (Jr., RHP, Alexandria, Minn.) allowed four runs on two hits and two walks in 1.2 frames. Kaylor Chamberlain (So., RHP, Mankato, Minn.) pitched a scoreless 0.1 innings. Jaroszewski earned his second win, as continued to be reliable out of the bullpen. The southpaw tossed a scoreless inning, with two strikeouts and a walk. Joey Connelly (Sr., LHP, Eden Prairie, Minn.) allowed an unearned run on two walks and a strikeout. Aaron Bennett pitched his second time in the day, getting an out. Leach earned his first career save, with 0.1 innings pitched. He came in with two relief appearances and one inning pitched. The freshman phenom had not pitched since March 5 against Wilmington University.Â
The Golden Eagles had 13 hits in the second tilt. Hebl went 3-of-5 with one RBI and two runs scored. Kappes finished 2-of-4, with a run scored and an RBI. Leach was 2-of-5, with an RBI and a run scored. Aaron Wensloff finished 2-of-3, with an RBI and two runs scored.
Augustana jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Heinsch, and Brandon Weigel scored on a dropped fly ball.
The Golden Eagles cut the deficit to 2-1 in the fourth as Aaron Wensloff crossed the plate on a Fliflet sacrifice fly. A Hebl double to left center drove in Leach to knot the game 2-2. A Kappes infield single scored Hebl to give Minnesota Crookston a 3-2 lead.
An Aaron Wensloff single in the fifth plated Kyler Miller to push the edge to 4-2 for Minnesota Crookston.
In the sixth, Berg scored on a Carter McPeak groundout to pull the Vikings within 4-3.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 5-3 in the seventh on a Leach double, driving in Aaron Wensloff.
A Bushbaum single, and an error allowed Hebl to score in the eighth to push the Minnesota Crookston advantage to 6-3. Miller reached on an error, allowing Bushbaum to score to widen the gap to 7-3.
Augustana cut the lead to 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth on an Eikmeier infield single to drive in Ragan Pinnow, after the original call of out was overturned. With two outs, Weigel doubled to left center, clearing the bases and scoring Eikmeier, Lundquist, and Berg to tie the game 7-7. Chamberlain struck out the final batter to get out of any further damage.
Pinnow singled and Berg walked to open the bottom of the ninth for the Vikings. The pair advanced a bag on a sacrifice bunt. Jaroszewski stepped up in a big way, striking out the final two batters to send the game to extra baseball.
Sculati was hit by a pitch in the top of the 10th to give Minnesota Crookston the leadoff runner with no outs. The Golden Eagles loaded the bases with no outs. A Miller sacrifice fly scored the go-ahead run in the form of pinch-runner Jack Hansen (Fr., OF, Mankato, Minn.). Kappes scored on a wild pitch to extend the edge to 9-7.
In the bottom of the 10th, Weigel, Soelter, and Pinnow all walked facing Connelly and Aaron Bennett. Leach came on for his second collegiate outing. Berg reached on a drop fly ball, to score Weigel and cut the deficit to 9-8. Leach got Lind to fly out for the final out as the Golden Eagles won 9-8.Â
The Golden Eagles conclude the regular season Saturday, May 2 at 1 p.m., at Ronken Field against Augustana. The NSIC Tournament will take place May 6-9 at Ronken Field and The Birdcage in Sioux Falls, S.D.
