(Crookston, Minn.)- The University of Minnesota, Crookston Baseball program will start its fall season on Monday, August 31. The Golden Eagles will practice from 3:30-6:30 pm at Jim Karn Field in Crookston, Minn.

NCAA Division II schools are allowed 24 days to work-out in the fall. U of M, Crookston will end fall ball on Monday, October 5. The 24 days will consist of a "Maroon and Gold" World Series. The Golden Eagles will be split into two squads and play a best of seven series.

U of M, Crookston Head Baseball Coach Chris Vito enters his third season at the helm and is ready to get the fall started. "I cannot wait to get our fall season underway," says Vito. "We took some nice steps forward last season with victories over St. Cloud State and Southwest Minnesota State. We were also more competitive."

The Golden Eagles will have 28 players on their fall roster and hope to add an additional player at the semester break. To Coach Vito's knowledge, it will be a school record for roster size.

"We have wanted to build our roster into the thirties," says Coach Vito. "More numbers means more competition. I see us being two to three deep at every defensive spot which is definite change for us. We return 13 players from last year's squad and add 15 newcomers. We are going to be young with only five seniors and 21 freshmen and sophomores. However, I expect that our upperclassmen will provide the leadership we need and that our younger players will supply added energy and enthusiasm. It is going to be a fun fall."

The Golden Eagles finished the 2009 season with an overall record of 7-42 and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) record of 3-29. They will open the 2009 season with six games at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minn. February 5 and 28 will see U of M, Crookston facing NSIC foes Bemidji State University and Northern State University in non-conference doubleheaders. Times have yet to be determined. A third non-conference doubleheader at the Metrodome has yet to be scheduled. Following those games, the Golden Eagles will travel to Winterhaven, Fla. for eight games at the RussMatt Invitational (March 12-17). They open NSIC play on March 19-20 when they travel to the Metrodome for a four-game series against St. Cloud State University. U of M, Crookston will be the home team.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics Web site at http://www.goldeneaglesports.com/.

The University of Minnesota, Crookston is a NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).

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