Box Score

ST. PAUL – The Northwestern College baseball team couldn't keep up with its Snelling Avenue counterpart, as Hamline University scored ten runs over two innings to win 12-3 at Reynolds Field on Wednesday afternoon.

Tyler Campion (Robbinsdale, Minn./Maranatha Christian) (Robbinsdale, Minn./Maranatha Christian Academy) went five and two-thirds innings on the pitcher's mound, yielding just two earned runs from the 27 batters the freshman faced.  Things went downhill from there through, as the Pipers went on to score five funs in the sixth inning and another five runs in the eighth.

Down 2-0 after Hamline scored two runs in the first frame, Northwestern evened the score with two runs in the bottom of the second inning.  With Mark Halstensgard (St. Anthony, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) (Minneapolis, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) and Erik Dahl (Robbinsdale, Minn./Armstrong) (Robbinsdale, Min./Armstrong) on second and third bases, Mike Sharp (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) (Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove) hit a two-RBI single up the middle.

After Campion departed with two outs in the sixth, Hamline scored their five runs on three hits and an error to lead 7-2.  All was quiet thereafter until the Pipers piped up again in the eighth.  Besides Hamline's three hits in the inning, Northwestern donated four passes to first base, resulting in a 12-2 score in HU's favor.

Pinch hitter Josh Lichty (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) (Cresco, Iowa/Crestwood) tallied his first collegiate RBI in the ninth inning, scoring Zach Holsman (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) on a groundout, giving the Eagles three runs in the game.

Offensively, Northwestern was out-hit 13-7 by Hamline, with both teams committing two errors.  Ryan Nelson (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) was the only Eagle to record two hits on the day, while Sharp was 1-3 with two RBI.

One day after splitting a doubleheader with #13 St. Thomas, Hamline improved its season record to 17-15.  NWC slipped to 14-16 overall (9-6 UMAC) following the loss.

The Eagles have called an audible for their weekend series with the College of St. Scholastica, moving Friday and Saturday's games up to a Thursday tripleheader in Duluth, Minn. to avoid unfavorable weather conditions.  The Saints will host Northwestern at Wade Stadium, as the first of three games begins at 1 p.m.