Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS – The Northwestern College baseball team was back in the Metrodome on Thursday afternoon for a full four and a half hours of baseball against Hamline University. The Pipers took the first game 9-1 before the second round of the twin bill was suspended due to time with NWC leading 3-2 after six innings.

The first game of the day showcased what could be one of the Eagles' weaknesses in 2013: pitching. After losing three starting pitchers after the 2012 season, Northwestern turned to Bryan McCallum (Rogers, Minn./Rogers), a junior who threw just one inning a year ago, to start the day on the hill. McCallum was one of six pitchers to see action in the seven-frame contest, throwing three and one-third innings that saw the Pipers score four runs, three of which were earned.

Hamline jumped on McCallum and NWC right away in the first inning with three runs. Back-to-back singles along with a hit batter loaded the bases for the Pipers with just one out on the board before a fielder's choice produced HU's first run of the day. More mistakes ensued for Northwestern in the frame, as a throwing error and a double steal on Hamline's end both resulted in runs.

After some small ball yielded the Pipers another run courtesy of a sacrifice bunt in the fourth frame, Hamline went big again in the fifth inning with three more runs, but unfortunately for NWC, those crossings at the plate came on just one hit and with two outs. A combination of walks, more hit batters, wild pitches and a balk gave the more southerly team on Snelling Avenue some free passes home.

Northwestern's first – and only – run of the game came in the top of the sixth inning with Hamline leading 7-0. To their credit, the Eagles put runners on the base paths with two outs on the board as Taylor McMurray (Vadnais Heights, Minn./Totino-Grace) was hit by a pitch before advancing to second base on a wild throw by the Pipers' Rannon Arch. Cody Durkee (Wilton, N.D./Wilton) then singled through the left side to score McMurry before a Zach Markwith (Honolulu, Hawaii/St. Louis) groundout ended the inning.

What was a six run deficit turned into an eight-run hole by the end of the game as Hamline put together two more runs in the bottom half of the sixth inning to account for the 9-1 final score.

Hamline out-hit the Eagles 8-2 with Matt Eikman taking credit for the Pipers' win on the mound. McCallum was charged for the loss for Northwestern, who received both of its hits by way of Durkee's bat.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their one-run lead near the end of Game 2, which could have earned NWC its first win of the season, won't count – at least for now – until the two teams meet to finish the final inning of the contest at some point in April. Northwestern returns to the Metrodome in one week as the Eagles are slated to face St. Olaf College on Thursday, Feb. 28 in a late night affair that will feature a 9:45 p.m. first pitch.