By: Shawn D. Smith, Assistant Athletic Director
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. - The University of Minnesota Crookston baseball team relied on the arm of Isaac Roers (R-Sr., RHP, Stacy, Minn.) threw 109 pitches in his first complete game of his career in a 4-2 win over Wayne State College to survive and advance in the NSIC Tournament. The Golden Eagles advance to the third game of the day against the loser of the Minnesota State University/Winona State University tilt.
The Golden Eagles improved to 27-24 with Thursday's win at The Birdcage in Sioux Falls, S.D., for their seventh NSIC Tournament win as a program. Wayne State dropped to 29-23 with the loss, and they were eliminated from the tournament. The Golden Eagles picked up their second win over the Wildcats in the NSIC Tournament.
Roers improved to 5-1 with the victory. He tossed a complete nine innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits. He tossed over 100 pitches for the second time in just over a week-and-a-half, with the gutty performance on the hill.
Braden Sweet picked up the loss, allowing one earned run on six hits in six frames. He struck out five, and walked one. Jace Coleman pitched a scoreless inning, while Brooks Kneifl allowed one run on two hits in two frames.
Jackson Fliflet (R-So., C, Wahpeton, N.D.) propelled Minnesota Crookston, going 2-of-4, with three RBI and a run scored including his 19th home run of the season. Connor Bushbaum (R-Sr., OF, Saginaw, Minn.) went 3-of-5 with a run scored. Americo Sculati (R-Sr., OF, Golden Valley, Minn.) was 1-of-4 with an RBI, and a run scored, including a home run.
The Golden Eagles put a pair of runners on early in the top of the third as Thomas Schumacher (Fr., IF, Thompson, N.D.) reached on an error after a bunt to the pitcher, followed by a single from Bushbaum. A two-out walk to Hebl loaded the bases. A single from Fliflet with two outs plated Schumacher, and Bushbaum to give Minnesota Crookston a 2-0 lead.
Wayne State put two on with one out after a single by Easton Mains, and Cam Madsen reached on a hit by pitch. Roers got two crucial outs to preserve the 2-0 advantage.
The Wildcats got a run back in the bottom of the fourth with a Braden Cannon sacrifice fly to score Max Heard and trim the deficit to 2-1. Roers got the Golden Eagles out of any further danger with the final out of the stanza.
The Golden Eagles had an opportunity after a Cole Hebl (R-So., 1B, Hillsboro, N.D.) base-knock. Bushbaum attempted to score, but the center fielder Mains hit the cutoff who threw a rope for the 8-6-2 putout to keep the tally 2-1 heading to the bottom of the fifth.
Minnesota Crookston led off the top of the sixth with a no-doubt home run over the left field fence for his league-high 19th home run from Fliflet to push the lead to 3-1.
The Golden Eagles loaded the bases in the top of the seventh following a Bushbaum double, and back-to-back walks to Elias Leach (Fr., OF, Plymouth, Minn.) and Hebl. Fliflet hit a ball to the warning track in left field, but Coleman got out of the jam to keep the game 3-1.
Wayne State cut the deficit to 3-2 in the bottom of the seventh with a solo shot from Braden Cannon.
The Golden Eagles extended their lead to 4-2 on Sculati's 11th home run of the season, powering over the left field fence.
Roers was able to shut the door to preserve the 4-2 victory over Wayne State.
The Golden Eagles look to continue their season in an elimination game Thursday, May 7 against the loser of the Winona State and Minnesota State game at 3:30 p.m., at The Birdcage. The game will begin at approximately 7 p.m.