Aberdeen, S.D. – With the season on the line, the Northern State University baseball team tallied a much needed sweep of Minnesota Crookston on Thursday. The Wolves downed the Golden Eagles with game scores of 4-3 and 10-5. Northern improved to 19-23 overall and 12-18 in league play heading into the final two 4-game series of the regular season.
 
Minnesota Crookston scored first with one run in the top of the first inning, however the lead didn't last long as the Wolves tied things up in the bottom of the frame in game one. The Golden Eagles went on to score two more runs in the third and fourth with the Wolves answering yet again in the bottom of the frame. Seth Sullwold led off the inning with a single to right, followed by Jack Schmidt's sixth homerun of the season. Schmidt absolutely crushed the ball, a line over the left center fence notching two RBI and tying this at three all. Schmidt also recorded the game winning RBI in the fifth walking in Patrick Leary with the bases loaded.
 
Tyler Gripentrog led the NSU offense going a perfect 2-for-2 at the plate with a run scored. Schmidt followed going 1-for-2 with a run scored and three RBI. Mikey Barreneche, Easton Lopez, and Sullwold tallied the final three hits for the team as the Wolves recorded six in the win.
 
Nick Hoffard threw his fifth win of the season going six complete innings for the Wolves. Hoffard gave up two earned runs on seven hits with four strikeouts. Nate Zeise and Kris Johnson entered in relief to throw the seventh and held the Golden Eagles scoreless. Johnson threw the final out of the game, notching his third save of the season.
 
The Golden Eagles again jumped out to a quick lead with three runs in the top of the first and second innings. The Wolves however broke things open in the bottom of the second. Schmidt led off the inning with a single through the 5-6-hole and came around to score the next at-bat as Ben Allen doubles to left. Mikey Barreneche followed that with a single of his own through the right side, leaving runners on the corners for Easton Lopez. Northern tested the UMC defense with a suicide squeeze by Lopez scoring Allen. Lopez reached on an error by the pitcher and advanced to third two at-bats later as Gripentrog singled to center.
 
The Wolves tested the defense again scoring Lopez on their second squeeze of the inning by Ben Carolin. Carolin was out on the play, but also moved Leary and Gripentrog into scoring position for Lucas Lorenz. The Wolves junior singled through the left side clearing the bases and capturing the two run lead for NSU. Despite runs in the fourth and sixth by the Golden Eagles, the Wolves put up crooked numbers in the bottom of each frame extending their lead.
 
Six Wolves tallied multiple hits in the win, led by Schmidt who went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Seth Sullwold and Ben Allen went 2-for-5 each notching the three extra base hits for the Wolves as Allen tallied two doubles and Sullwold connected for a homerun. Lorenz, Barreneche, and Gripentrog were the final three players with multiple hits in the win going 2-for-4.
 
Rylan Shimer made his first NSIC start of the season throwing 2.1 innings with two earned runs, on four hits and three strikeouts. Thomas Sertic entered in relief giving up just one earned run on five hits in his fifth win of the season. Isaiah Greene, Kris Johnson, and Luke Chevalier three an inning each to close out the win. Johnson and Chevalier held the Golden Eagles scoreless and combined for five of the team's 11 strikeouts.
 
The Wolves will welcome to town Winona State this Saturday and Sunday for a pair of doubleheaders. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday. NSU athletics will also honor the 15 NSU seniors in between games on Saturday.