Minnesota Crookston used strong starting pitching to shut down Wayne State College Sunday in the season-opening Northern Sun Conference baseball doubleheader for both teams, winning 4-0 and 6-4 in games at Omaha Westside High School. as the Golden Eagles swept the Wildcats 4-0 and 6-4 Sunday afternoon.
In the opener, Golden Eagle starter Zach Rustad blanked the Wildcats with a one-hit shutout. The lefthander fanned seven Wildcats, allowing just a Kyle Thompson single in the fourth inning, along with three walks in recording the shutout. Crookston used a solo homer to take a 1-0 lead in the second and added three runs in the sixth inning to account for their offense.
In the second game, the Golden Eagles were able to hold off a late Wildcat rally to secure the doubleheader sweep.
Wayne State opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second as Andrew Hanson singled and scored on a Crookston throwing error.
Minnesota Crookston plated single runs in the third and fourth innings followed by a three-run seventh to grab a 5-1 lead before the Wildcats tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh. Brendan Madsen’s opposite-field double down the left field line brought home Peyton Barnes and Garrett Graveline. Wayne State had the tying run on base when Bryce Bisenius walked, but Crookston was able to get out of the jam and added an insurance run in the top of the ninth.
Wayne State had a chance in the bottom of the ninth, starting the inning with pinch hits from Colin Chick and Jake Nielsen. Madsen walked to load the bases with no outs, and Alex Logelin’s sacrifice fly to center scored Chick, but the Wildcats could not do any more damage.
Barnes led an eight-hit effort, going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Madsen added a two-run double while Thompson and Nielsen each had doubles. Starting pitcher Hunter Wienhoff (4-1) suffered the loss.
Wayne State (9-6, 0-2 NSIC) and Minnesota Crookston conclude the three-game series Monday at 12 p.m. with a nine-inning game at Omaha Westside.
