The University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) Golden Eagles Baseball team lost the first game 4-3 and then lost another heart-breaker 5-4 in 10 innings to the Concordia-St. Paul Golden Bears in a Northern Sun Conference double-header in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, at the Sanford Sports complex.
GAME ONE
Game one was a pitcher’s dual with only 11 hits recorded, but the defense for both teams struggled with a total of five errors, and Concordia-St. Paul scored three unearned runs to beat the Golden Eagles 4-3.
FIRST INNING –
Kyle Odenbach (Jr. Thompson, ND) got the start on the mound for UMC and had a great start to the game with a strikeout, a flyout, and a ground out to retire Concordia-St. Paul in 1-2-3 fashion.
In the bottom of the inning, Sawyer Satrom (Sr. Portland, ND) singled with one out, but the next batter flew out, and the third out was made on a stolen base attempt.
SECOND INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul started the second inning with the leadoff batter reaching on an error before a single. The next batter laid down a sacrifice bunt before a ground out allowed a run to score for a 1-0 lead.
UMC’s bats had holes in them in the bottom of the inning as all three batters struck out for a quick 1-2-3 inning.
THIRD INNING –
The Golden Bears started the third inning with a walk, but the next three batters grounded out.
UMC got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Kyler Miller (Fresh. Grand Rapids) singled with one out. The next batter grounded out before Dylan Debilzen (Fresh. Parkers Prairie) singled to score a run to tie the game at 1-1.
FOURTH INNING-
The Golden Bears leadoff batter in the fourth inning walked, but the next two batters struck out, and the next batter grounded out.
UMC’s offensive woes continued as they were retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a ground out and two strikeouts.
FIFTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul added a run in the fifth inning after a leadoff walk, and the runner advanced all the way to third on back-to-back wild pitches and scored on a throwing error for a 2-1 lead.
UMC’s Danny Wensloff (Sr. Roseau) reached on a throwing error with one out. The next batter flew out, and Wensloff was caught trying to advance to third base on a throwing error but was thrown out to retire the Golden Eagles.
SIXTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul’s leadoff batter grounded out, but the next batter doubled. The next batter reached on another UMC error, and the runners advanced to second and third base. The ensuing batter singled to score two runs to give the Golden Bears a 4-1 lead.
UMC responded in the bottom of the inning when Brock Larsen (Jr. Blaine) got a pinch-hit single. Debilzen walked, and Satrom was hit by a pitch to load the bases with nobody out. The next batter hit into a double play, but a run scored. Americo Sculati (Jr. Golden Valley) followed with a double to score another run to bring UMC within a 4-3 deficit. Aaron Wensloff (Soph. Roseau) singled before the next batter struck out.
SEVENTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul started the inning with a double and a sacrifice bunt to advance the runner to third base. The next batter grounded out, and after a walk, the next batter grounded out.
UMC needed to score one run to tie the game and two runs to win, and it started off with a Danny Wensloff single. The next batter had a sacrifice bunt, and Conner Bushbaum (Jr. Saginaw) walked. The next two batters hit into fielder’s choices, and Concordia-St. Paul held on for a 4-3 victory.
| Box Score | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E |
| CSP | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 |
UMC offensive leaders-
Brock Larsen – 1 for 1
Kyler Miller – 1 for 2, run
Dylan Debilzen – 1 for 3, rbi, run, walk
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Kyle Odenbach – UMC (LP) | 5.1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| Max Weber-UMC | 0.2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jaxson Bennett-UMC | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ian Segna-CSP (WP) | 6.0 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 9 |
| Jack Greenlun-CSP (S) | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
GAME TWO –
FIRST INNING-
UMC gave the ball to Isaac Wensloff (Jr. Roseau), and he retired the first three batters of the game by flyouts for a 1-2-3 inning.
UMC had a tough start to the game as the first two batters struck out and grounded out for a 1-2-3 inning.
SECOND INNING-
Concordia-St. Paul had a solid second inning as the leadoff batter walked, and the next batters singled. After a flyout, the next Golden Bear singled to score a run for a 1-0 lead. CSP kept things going with another single, and a run scored for a 2-0 lead. After a walk loaded the bases, a sacrifice fly scored another run for a 3-0 lead.
UMC tried to close the deficit in the bottom of the inning by one-out walks to Aaron Wensloff (Soph. Roseau) and Bushbaum. The next batter grounded out before Larsen walked to load the bases, but the next batter grounded out, and the Golden Eagle threat was over.
THIRD INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a pair of lineouts and a ground out.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with three strikeouts.
FOURTH INNING –
Wensloff continued to deal in the fourth inning as he retired all three batters with flyouts for another 1-2-3 inning.
UMC’s Sculati singled, and after a strikeout, Bushbaum singled. The next two batters struck out, and the Golden Eagle threat was over.
FIFTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul added to their lead in the top of the inning as a leadoff walk was followed by two ground outs. The next batter singled to score a run for a 4-0 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, Debilzen walked, and Satrom singled with one out. After a pitching change, the runners advanced to second and third base on a wild pitch. The next two Golden Eagle batters flew out, and the threat was over.
SIXTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul started the inning with a single and a walk. UMC made a pitching change as Caden Edwards (Sr. Duluth) retired the next three batters he faced to get out of the jam.
UMC finally got on the board in the bottom of the inning when Aaron Wensloff was hit by a pitch, and Bushbaum reached on a fielder’s choice. All runners were safe on a throwing error. Larsen followed with a single to right field to get UMC within a 4-1 deficit. The next batter flew out, but a run scored on the sacrifice fly. Debilzen kept his hot bat going as he singled to second base to bring the Golden Eagles within a 4-3 deficit.
SEVENTH INNING –
The first two Golden Bear batters grounded out and lined out before a walk. The next batter grounded out.
UMC was retired in 1-2-3 fashion with a foul out and two ground outs.
EIGHTH INNING –
UMC’s Edwards continued his stellar pitching as he retired the Golden Bears in 1-2-3 fashion.
UMC’s Bushbaum led off the inning with a walk, but the next three batters were retired.
NINTH INNING-
UMC’s Isaac Roers came into pitch in the ninth inning and retired Concordia-St. Paul in 1-2-3 fashion with a line out and two strikeouts.
UMC needed a run to tie the game and two runs to win the game. The first batter was retired before Satrom was hit by a pitch. Josh Dykhoff (Jr. Wadena) laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Satrom to second base. It turned out to be a huge at-bat as Sculati singled to right field, and Satrom scored from second base to tie the game 4-4.
TENTH INNING –
Concordia-St. Paul started extra innings with a leadoff double and a single to score a run for a 5-4 lead. The next three batters were retired with two strikeouts and one ground out.
UMC needed one run to keep the game going and two runs to win. The bottom of the inning started with Bushbaum reaching for a throwing error and advanced to second base on the play. The next two batters struck out and grounded out, but the tying run was 90 feet away at third base. Jonah Norman (Soph. Winnipeg, Manitoba) came into pinch-hit and drew a walk. The next batter grounded out, and UMC lost 5-4.
The teams split the four-game series. UMC drops to 11-15 overall and 8-8 in the NSIC and will host Winona State for a four-game series starting Friday, April 4. Concordia-St. Paul improves to 12-14 overall and 8-8 in the NSIC.
| Game 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | R | H | E |
| CSP | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 2 |
| UMC | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 0 |
For UMC-
Americo Sculati – 2 for 5, rbi
Connor Bushbaum – 1 for 3, 2 walks, run
| Pitching | IP | H | R | ER | BB | K |
| Isaac Wensloff-UMC | 5.0 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Caden Edwards-UMC | 3.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Isaac Roers-UMC | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Fritz Meyer-CSP | 4.1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| Reece Piontek-CSP | 1.1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Christian Lindow-CSP | 3.1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Jack Greenlun-CSP | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
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