Winona, Minn. - The University of Minnesota-Crookston baseball team came into their weekend series with Winona State sporting a 4-0 record and having scored double-digits in all four contests. While game one saw the Golden Eagles extend that streak fairly easily to five with a 10-0 win over WSU, the Warriors battled in game two, only to fall late, 12-11.
Game One
The opening NSIC contest for both teams saw Minnesota-Crookston pitcher Jake Dykhoff throw a four-hit gem against Winona State, as he struck out ten Warriors while walking only two. WSU struggled to make consistent contact with the Golden Eagle junior, as he raised his record to 1-0 on the year, at the Warriors' expense.
Winona State was paced by
Carter Brinkman, who was 2-for-2 on the day.
Sam Kohnle and
Derek Martin both picked up hits in the contest as well.
On the mound,
Kyle Gendron got the start for Winona State and went three full innings, striking out six UMC batters. Gendron conceded three hits and five runs, two of which were earned.
Middle reliever
Aaron Huebsch gave up four runs in fourth before giving way to
Mitchell Mueller, who went three innings. Mueller picked up five strikeouts in his time on the hill, with just one walk.
John Breske completed the Warrior pitching effort, going one inning, giving up one run.
As a team, Minnesota-Crookston scored four runs in both the third and fourth innings to pull away from Winona State in the 7-inning affair. The Golden Eagles were paced by Brock Reller who had a grand slam in the contest, Parker Stroh who was 2-for-4 and Jake Hjelle, who scored twice.
Game Two
Winona State took the field in game two with a much-improved offensive output, scoring six runs in their first trip through the batting order, leading 6-2 after three innings. However a four-run sixth inning and wild six-run ninth frame proved to be the undoing for Warriors, as they fell 12-11.
Derek Baumgartner got WSU off to a good start with a solo homer in the second inning, his second round-tripper of the year. RBIs by
Cooper Kapanke and
Carter Brinkman started the third inning off well for the Warriors and a
Joe Ihrke triple drove in two more runs to complete the scoring.
UMC fought back to tie the game 6-6 in the sixth inning, when once again, Baumgartner delivered, knocking a double to right center after
Sam Kohnle had driven in
Derek Martin. Ihrke one-upped his triple in the third inning with a solo shot in the seventh, staking WSU a 9-6 lead heading into the final frames.
However, the top of the ninth saw things go sideways for the Warriors, as UMC scored six runs on a combination of base hits, defensive miscues and wild pitches. When the dust settled, the Golden Eagles had plated six runs in the top of the ninth, and handed the ball to Brody Sorenson to face Winona State in the bottom of the ninth.
WSU battled back, with Martin driving in
Jake Brill to close the gap to two at 12-10 and
Tanner Williams hit a double that drove in Martin. With runners at second and third and two out, UMC's Sorenson saw a two-strike pitch to Kapanke fly about 280 feet, but was hauled in at the warning track to conclude the contest.
In the second game,
Derek Martin was 4-for-6 with an RBI, while scoring three times.
Sam Kohnle was 3-for-5,
Tanner Williams 3-for-6 and
Derek Baumgartner 2-for-4.
Joe Ihrke earned the hard half of a full cycle, cracking a triple and a home run in a 2-for-5 effort at the plate.
Martin, Kohnle, Baumgartner and
Nick Herbst all had stolen bases in the game; Brill had a pair of walks as well.
In a tumultuous time on the mound for Winona State, six pitchers made appearances for the Warriors.
Austin Savary went the first five innings in fine form, striking out six, walking three and giving up just two hits.
Bailey Banaszynski,
Cameron Kramer and
Justin Firpo combined for the next three stanzas, with Banaszyski giving up four runs.
Nicolas Herold picked up the loss for WSU, with six runs against, three of which were earned.
Peter Tveite earned the final outs for the Warriors, including one strikeout.
With the sweep, the Golden Eagles move to an impressive 6-0 on the year, 2-0 in NSIC play. Winona State falls to 3-4 overall, 0-2 in the NSIC.
The same two teams will tangle tomorrow, when Winona State closes out the three-game home stand against UMC. First pitch is set for noon at Loughrey Field.
For the most up to date news in Warrior Athletics, please visit: www.WINONASTATEWARRIORS.com and @WinonaStateATH.
About Winona State University Athletics:
The Winona State University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, as an integral part of the educational mission of the institution, is committed to offering opportunities to experience academic and athletic excellence for our student-athletes through two simple words: Graduate Champions.
Fourteen Warrior programs compete at the NCAA Division II level within the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). Winona State University competes as an affiliate member of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) in the sport of women's gymnastics.
Media Contact: Pete Watkins, Director of Athletic Communications | Ph: 507.457.5577 | Email: pwatkins@winona.edu
