Walker, SCSU erase five-run ninth inning deficit, fall in 11 to UMC

Sunday, March 7

Fort Scott, KS

3:00 p.m.

St. Cloud State

0-2

University of Minnesota Crookston

2-0

St. Cloud State

Minnesota-Crookston

Lenny Walker delivered a pair of crucial hits in the late innings of Sunday's nightcap

Walker, SCSU erase five-run ninth inning deficit, fall in 11 to UMC

3/7/2021 11:10:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

Lenny Walker's (1-4, BB, R, HR, SF, 3 RBI) late-inning heroics fueled an incredible five-run ninth inning comeback, but St. Cloud State Baseball (0-2, 0-0 NSIC) fell just short in an 11-inning 10-9 Opening Day heartbreaker to Minnesota-Crookston (2-0, 0-0 NSIC).

The Huskies faced a 2-0 deficit early as the Golden Eagles opened the scoring with a wind-aided two-run shot to left in the first. Matt Osterberg and UMC's ace traded zeroes for the next three frames, then a SCSU passed ball keyed another two-run inning in the fifth. Osterberg's 2021 debut saw him gut through 5.0 innings of three-hit baseball, allowing just three earned while striking out five batters.

Down five headed into the seventh after Minnesota-Crookston scratched across one in the sixth, Walker walked, Kyle Rodriguez (2-6) and Tate Wallet (1-5, R) singled to load the baseball with none retired. A double play ball following a pitching change erased Walker and Rodriguez, then John Nett (1-4, 2 BB, 2 R) drew a walk to reload the bases. Wallat crossed the plate on a wild pitch, then Max Gamm (3-5, BB, R, 2 RBI) ripped a single to left, scoring Nett and pinch runner Parker Savard (R).

Minnesota-Crookston answered back with three in the bottom of the seventh. Trailing 8-3 in the top half of the ninth after Jacob Bradley fired a scoreless eighth, the Huskies found some magic in the ninth.

Caleb Marquez (0-0, BB, HBP, R) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, then Nett and Gamm walked to load the bases. Drew Bulson (1-1, BB, 2 R, RBI) pinch hit and tapped an infield single to the right side that the second baseman threw away, allowing Marquez and Nett to score. Jake Shusterich (1-2, BB, 2 HBP, SF, RBI) brought home Gamm with a sacrifice fly to center. After a Huskies out, Walker blasted a two-out, two-strike, two-run home run to left, tying the game at eight.

In the Huskies' half of the 11th, Bulson walked and later scored on a Walker sacrifice fly to give SCSU their lone lead of the game. Minnesota-Crookston walked things off with a two-run bottom of the inning.

The Huskies and Golden Eagles meet again on Monday morning at 11:30 a.m. CST in Fort Scott. Fans can follow the action on 97.5 RadioX.