NWC splits with North Central

ST. PAUL -- Northwestern College split a Tuesday afternoon doubleheader with North Central University, losing 4-3 before winning 8-3. With the split, the Eagles currently stand at 8-9 on the season.

In Game 1, Northwestern became the victim of a seventh inning slumber, as North Central scored three runs to take the lead. The Eagles got on the board first, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning as Ryan Long (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) (Dassel, Minn./Dassel-Cokato) scored on an RBI single by Zach Markwith (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Louis) (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Louis). NWC added another run in the third frame when Long scored again on a sacrifice fly by Dan Halstensgard (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony) (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony).

After Brady Erickson (Chisholm, Minn./Chisholm) (Chisholm, Minn./Chisholm) scored Northwestern's third run of the game in the sixth inning, the Rams scored a trio of runs - all with two outs. NWC threatened to tie the game with runners on first and third bases, but a strikeout and a groundout ended the inning and the game.

The Game 1 loss lit a fire under Northwestern in the second game, as the Eagles came back to win 8-3. North Central put a two-spot up in the top of the first inning, but NWC responded with a three-run first frame. Long led off with a home run over the left field fence, setting the pace for an eight-run game.

The Eagles dealt with the opposite of their Game 1 mistakes, finishing with a four-run sixth inning that included three hits and a trio of North Central errors.

Ryan Nelson (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) (Stillwater, Minn./St. Croix Lutheran) and Mark Halstensgard (St. Anthony, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) (St. Anthony, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) each had a double in the game while recording RBIs. On the day, Long finished 4-6 with three RBI and four runs scored. Sharp was the only other NWC batter to record two or more hits in a game as he went 2-3 with two runs scored in Game 2.

Tyler Campion (Robbinsdale, Minn./Maranatha Christian) (Robbinsdale, Minn./Maranatha) got the nod to start Game 1 from the hill, where he pitched four and a third innings. Campion gave up just one run before yielding the mound to Mark Meredith (Robbinsdale, Minn./Armstrong) (Golden Valley, Minn./Armstromg). Meredith was cruising until North Central gave him jitters in the seventh frame. By the time Mark Halstensgard (St. Anthony, Minn./Minnehaha Academy) came to relieve Meredith, the damage had been done.

Josh Englund (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) (Lakeville, Minn./Lakeville North) gave up just two earned runs in five innings of work in Game 2, striking out two in the process. Halstensgard came back to pitch the final two innings, striking out one of the seven batters he faced while yielding no hits.

NWC will face a much tougher opponent on Thursday, when the Eagles host the College of St. Scholastica in both teams' UMAC-opener. The 18th-ranked Saints have earned five straight NCAA Tournament appearances amidst 13 consecutive UMAC titles. Thursday's twin bill is expected to begin at 2 p.m. at Reynolds Field.

Print Friendly Version

University of Northwestern Athletics

Slideshow

NWC splits with North Central