ST. PAUL – The University of Northwestern baseball team (3-9) opened up its four-game weekend set with Presentation College (7-13) with a split Friday night at Reynolds Field. UNW used a late offensive explosion in game one to earn a 15-3 victory before falling in extra innings in the nightcap, 4-3.
Game One
After Presentation jumped out to an early 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the third, UNW pushed a pair of runs across to take a 4-3 lead – an advantage they would never relinquish. The only other offense came in the sixth, when the Eagles exploded for an 11-run frame.
Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka )'s three-run blast highlighted the scoring in the sixth to give UNW a 15-3 victory.
After giving up three early, unearned runs, freshman
Henry Waage (Alexandria, Minn./Alexandria) settled in and was spectacular, not allowing another run through the final five innings. The right-hander struck out a pair en route to moving to 2-0 on the year with his complete-game effort.
Sutterer paced the offense, going 3-for-4 at the dish with five RBI.
Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) continued his strong effort at the plate, contributing a pair of hits, while driving in four runs and scoring three runs.
Game Two
The Eagles did their damage early, as
Ryan Sutterer (Anoka, Minn./Anoka ) connected on his second three-run homer of the day in the bottom of the first. The senior now has four round-trippers on the season.
The visiting Saints chipped away at UNW's lead, plating a run in the third and sixth before tying the game in the seventh. Presentation used a sacrifice fly in the top of the eighth to score the winning run in extras.
Jake Franzen got the nod on the mound, working the first six innings. The right-hander allowed just two earned runs on six hits.
Ben Skolbekken (Andover, Minn./Anoka Ramsey CC) pitched the seventh before
Corban Halbur (Richfield, Minn./Richfield) came in to throw the eighth. Halbur was tagged with the loss.
Tyler Osborn (Clive, Iowa/Des Moines Christian) finished 3-for-5 at the dish, while
Braxton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) added two more hits to lead the offensive attack.
The Eagles and Saints will conclude their four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday. First pitch in game one is set for 12 noon. Fans unable to make it out can watch the game at
www.unweagles.com.