ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern baseball team (6-14) battled visiting St. Olaf College (7-9) in Thursday's non-conference doubleheader at Reynolds Field, but the Eagles came up short in both contests. The Oles won game one, 10-5, before taking the nightcap, 8-4.

Game One
In a back-and-forth contest, the Oles used a six-run third inning to pick up the win. Olaf jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, but UNW responded with a three-run third. Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka ) highlighted the big frame for the Eagles, as the junior smashed a two-run single.

Olaf answered with a six spot in the top of the fourth to go back on top, 8-3. UNW added runs in the fourth and fifth, but weren't able to generate any additional offense, dropping the opener 10-5.

Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) and John Hietpas (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) provided a pair of hits each at the plate to lead the offense. Lindow also scored two runs.

Troy Nelson (Buena Park, Calif. /Buena Park) suffered the loss on the hill, surrendering six hits in 3.1 innings. The senior right-hander fanned three in his seventh start of the season. Benjamin Jenney (Albertville, Minn./Maranatha Christian) and Nathan Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) made appearances out of the pen. In his one inning of work, Ehnstrom struck out two Oles.

Game Two
The Oles took an early 3-0 advantage after the first inning, but the Eagles clawed their way back into the game, tying the contest at 3-3 in the fourth.

After Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka ) smacked a run-scoring double, Nathan Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) singled up the middle, scoring Bradley Spencer (Papillion, NE/Papillion South) and Sutterer. UNW pushed a run across in the sixth, but was unable to muster any more offense the rest of the way.

St. Olaf scored three times in the fifth and tacked on two more in the seventh to secure the sweep.

Sutterer went 2-for-3 at the dish, while John Hietpas (Woodbury, Minn./East Ridge) (2-for-3) turned in his second multi-hit performance of the day.

Despite striking out a season-high seven batters, starting pitcher Erik Nyquist (Elk River, Minn./Pine Island) was tagged with the loss on the bump, as he gave up six runs in five innings of work.

The Eagles will be off until next Tuesday when Crown College will visit Reynolds Field for the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) opener. More information can be found at www.unweagles.com.