Game 1 - Minnesota Crookston 4 Wayne State 0

Game 2 - Minnesota Crookston 6 Wayne State 4

             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 as the Golden Eagles swept the Wildcats 4-0 and 6-4 Sunday afternoon.  The games were played at Omaha Westside High School due to wet field conditions in Wayne as UMC improves to 9-7 and 2-0 in league play while WSC drops to 9-6 and 0-2.
            The opener saw Golden Eagle starter Zach Rustad blank the Wildcats with a one-hit shutout as UMC took the first game 4-0.  The lefthander fanned seven Wildcats, allowing just a Kyle Thompson single in the fourth inning, along with three walks in recording the shutout.
            UMC 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 opener while blanking the Wildcats.
            Thompson's fourth inning single was the only hit for WSC as Omaha Westside graduate Aidan Breedlove (3-2) was tagged with the pitching loss.  He was charged with three runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and three walks.  Senior Charles Hasty worked one inning of relief, yielding one run on one hit with freshman Ryan Obrecht working one perfect inning of relief with one strikeout.
            The second game saw the Golden Eagles fend off a Wildcat rally late as Minnesota Crookston completed the sweep with a 6-4 victory.
            WSC opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the second as Andrew Hanson singled and later scored on a UMC throwing error for a 1-0 Wildcat lead.
            Minnesota Crookston plated single runs in the third and fourth innings followed by a three-run seventh to grab a 5-1 lead on the Wildcats.
            The Wildcats started their rally in the bottom of the seventh with two runs to reduce the Golden Eagle lead to 5-3.  Brendan Madsen's opposite field double down the left field line brought home Peyton Barnes (single) and Garrett Graveline (hit by pitch).  WSC got the tying run on base when Bryce Bisenius walked, but UMC got retired Travis Miller via strikeout to get out of the inning.
            The Golden Eagles scored their final run in the top of the ninth for a 6-3 lead.
            WSC rallied again in the bottom of the ninth, starting the inning with pinch hits from Colin Chick (single) and Jake Nielsen doubling to right center.  Madsen walked to load the bases with no outs.  Alex Logelin's sacrifice fly to center field scored Chick cutting the UMC lead to 6-4. 
            But again, UMC got out of the inning without any further damage recording a fielder's choice and a ground out to preserve the 6-4 victory.
            Both teams had eight hits in the contest.  Barnes led WSC 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 on the mound, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits in 6 2/3 innings with six strikeouts and four walks.  Freshman reliever Andrew Staebell pitched the final 2 1/3 innings and gave up one run on two hits with five strikeouts.
            Wayne State and Minnesota Crookston conclude the three-game series Monday at 12 p.m. with a nine-inning game at Omaha Westside High School.