MINOT, N.D. – It's been a long time coming: 29 games and 59 days since the season started but finally the Minot State baseball team is set for its home debut.

The Beavers (9-20 overall, 6-13 NSIC) hit the turf at Corbett Field for the first time this spring hosting Minnesota Crookston in an NSIC doubleheader this Wednesday starting at 1:30 p.m.

Playing at home will be a welcome change for the Beavers who have found the road a tough one, especially of late as Minot State has dropped 9-of-11 over the last few weeks.

Playing the Golden Eagles (17-11, 11-7) won't be any easier, though, as Minnesota Crookston has won 5 of its last 6, taking 3-of-4 from Winona State over the weekend after handing second-place Augustana a pair of losses.

That has the Golden Eagles sitting fifth in the NSIC, though Minnesota Crookston hasn't put up big numbers on offense or pitching-wise as the Golden Eagles are 10^th in the league hitting .294 with 39 HRs and averaging 7.6 runs per game, while their pitching staff is seventh in the league with a 5.69 ERA.

Also maybe a surprise is the fact NSIC Preseason Player of the Year, senior outfielder Jake Hjelle, hasn't been crushing opponents at the plate. Last season's NCBWA Division II Player of the Year, Hjelle is hitting a solid .306 with 6 home runs and 24 RBIs but isn't leading the way for Minnesota Crookston offensively.

But with foes focusing on shutting down Hjelle, his teammates have taken advantage and stepped up as junior outfielder Caden Headlee is hitting a team-best .383 with three homers and 23 RBIs and senior first baseman Teddy Giefer is hitting .368 with five homers and a team-high 37 RBIs.

While they lead the offense, a trio of arms are setting the tone on the hill led by senior righties Jake Osowski, who is a perfect 5-0 with a 4.60 ERA, and Brody Sorenson, who is 5-1 with a 3.66. They're helped out by freshman left-hander Nate Benning who is having a standout debut season with a 2-1 record and a 3.64 ERA.

They'll look to extend Minnesota Crookston's recent success against Minot State as the Beavers have lost 5 of the last 6 against the Golden Eagles, including a 7-3 setback in the NSIC Tournament opener last spring.

As for the Beavers, coming home might be the thing that breaks Minot State out of a see-saw season and gets them on the winning track.

Offensively, the Beavers have hit well as Ricky Apodaca is No. 2 in the NSIC hitting .469 with a team-best 23 RBIs, while Brian Parry is 12^th in the league with a .359 batting average.

Mark Ossanna is hitting .342 with a homer and 15 RBIs, which includes a hot-handed weekend at Minnesota State, Mankato as he went 6-for-14 with 7 RBIs, and Grant Gabbert is hitting .317, shares the team lead with 4 homers, and has 18 RBIs.

Starter Craig Schmich (2-5, 5.60 ERA) led the way on the hill for Minot State over the weekend, picking up a win with seven strikeouts in six innings work, while teammate Cameron Bagshaw has two wins and a 5.65 ERA for the Beavers out of the bullpen.

The first home games of the season for the Beavers, Minot State hits the road following the mid-week doubleheader for three games at Sioux Falls before the Beavers settle in to play 8-of-10 at Corbett Field to close out the month of April.