ST. PAUL – After a 3-1 win over Hamline University on Wednesday of this week, the University of Northwestern baseball squad had its troubles in the games that mattered more on Friday and Saturday as Northland College swept the Eagles in both teams' Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opening series. The LumberJacks took both games of a Saturday doubleheader at Reynolds Field, winning 6-5 and 10-2.

Northwestern looked as though it was going to be able to break through its recent slump in Saturday's first game as the Eagles used a four-run third inning to put itself ahead with a sizable gap in between themselves and Northland. Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls)'s triple scored Tucker Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) from first in that frame, starting a spree at the plate that saw five UNW batters earn first base via a walk as the LumberJacks' Dennis Morales struggled with his control on the mound. Despite the large number of runs, Lindow's triple was Northwestern's lone hit of the inning as the Eagles continued to seek contact with the bat that resulted with men on base.

Northland answered with a five-run fourth, wiping UNW's lead off the board as starting pitcher Jonathan Ellis began to tire. With two outs under their belt, the Eagles could have gotten out of the inning unscathed, but Alex Elliott was able to reach first base after initially swinging on strike three thanks to a passed ball and the momentum built from there. Logan Schuman's single scored Daniel Kollauf from third, then Ellis walked Jakob Freele with the bases loaded.

As far as hits went, Lindow was Northwestern's only threat at the plate, and the Eagles sophomore ripped a double to start the home team's at-bat in the fourth. Lindow made it to third on a deep Brock Peterson (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) fly ball, but was stranded – along with two other runners on first and second – as relief pitcher Dylan Porter got Northland out of the jam.

Erik Nyquist (Elk River, Minn./Pine Island) singled up the middle to start the fifth for Northwestern, and tied the game on Aaron Rau (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge)'s RBI groundout as Troy Nelson (Buena Park, Calif. /Buena Park) calmed the LumberJack bats from the mound. Nelson had two outs in the ninth with Freele, whom the Eagles sophomore walked, on second before Matt Lennon's single to center scored his teammate to put Northland up, ultimately for good.

Much like Friday's game that resulted in a late comeback by the Jacks, Northwestern had a threat in its final at-bat, but Nathan Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) became one of 11 Eagles left on base throughout the game as a pair of groundouts ended it with Northland on top.

Lindow finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored for Northwestern's only multiple-hit performance of the early contest. Northland's Lennon matched Lindow's mark, as Porter earned the win in four and two-thirds innings worth of work. Nelson was credited with the loss despite yielding two hits with four strikeouts in five frames.

From the batter's box, Northwestern went a combined 1-14 with runners on base while going 0-9 when runners were in scoring position.

The same hitting woes continued for the Eagles in Game 2 as Northland capitalized on scoring opportunities in its at-bats in what amounted to a lopsided loss for UNW. Tucker Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) started strong for the Eagles on the hill, blazing through the first three frames without giving up a run. The same was true in the fifth and sixth innings for the Northwestern newcomer, but Northland put up three runs in the fourth as the Eagles assisted the LumberJacks' two hits with a pair of defensive errors. Morrell yielded three hits through six innings, but a powerful seventh inning ended the junior's run.

Northwestern was fortunate to get a run across in the bottom of the sixth frame as a passed ball allowed Brett Reinhart (Chanhassen, Minn./Southwest Christian) to advance to first after the freshman swung on strike three while Osborn scored from third. The Eagles' other run came in the eighth as Michael Studer (St. Anthony Village, Minn. /St. Anthony Village) got a ball through the left side to bring in Brock Peterson (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls).

Morrell, on the bump to start the seventh, got into trouble with a walk followed by hitting the next batter. Northland responded with a pair of two-out, two-RBI hits, prompting UNW head coach Dave Hieb to go to his bullpen and Benjamin Jenney (Albertville, Minn./Maranatha Christian). Jenney was only able to get one out in the eighth as he had his own control issues, so Corban Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) got the ball for what was a scoreless rest of the eighth and ninth innings.

As has been the case as of recently, Northwestern had a runner on base in the ninth, but time ran out on the Eagles, who had a large hill to climb on the scoreboard.

Lindow and Peterson – hitting 1-2 on UNW's lineup card – both collected two hits, but as a team, Northwestern still had nine runners left on base throughout the game.

Schuman went all nine innings for Northland in Game 2, earning the win with just one earned run charged against him. Morrell took the loss for UNW.

Northwestern is back at the diamond on Tuesday of next week as the Eagles resume their UMAC schedule against North Central University in a 7 p.m. night game at Reynolds Field. Both teams will be looking to rebound after the Rams were swept by UMAC opponent St. Scholastica this weekend.