ST. PAUL – Backed by
Eric Peterson (Coon Valley, Wis./Westby)'s three-run homerun and
Philip Wall (Juneau, AK./IDEA)'s complete-game effort, the University of Northwestern baseball team (5-12) earned a split with No. 24 Bethel University (13-3) Thursday at Reynolds Field. The Eagles won game one 5-1 before falling in game two 8-3.
Game One
The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third after
Nathan Ehnstrom (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) brought home
Cedric Cavazos (Chicago, Ill./Buffalo Grove). Bethel tied the score in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles responded in a big way in the bottom of the sixth.
The inning began when
Andrew Simonson (Lakeland, Minn./Eastridge) walked,
Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) singled him to second, and then with two outs
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, NE/Papillion South) singled home Simonson to give the Eagles the lead.
Eric Peterson (Coon Valley, Wis./Westby) followed that up with a three-run homerun to make the score 5-1.
Philip Wall (Juneau, AK./IDEA) threw seven dominant innings and gave up no earned runs and nine hits. He struck out one guy and didn't walk anybody.
Game Two
The Royals jumped ahead early in game two as they scored two in the first, one in the third, two in the fifth, and two more in the sixth. The Eagles got on the board in the bottom of the sixth on an
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) solo homerun.
In the bottom of the seventh,
Carter Michaelson (South St. Paul, Minn./South St. Paul) singled and then
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, NE/Papillion South) followed that up with a single.
Eric Peterson (Coon Valley, Wis./Westby) then hit a two run double to complete the scoring for Northwestern.
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Homeschool) got the start on the mound and gave up four earned runs over five innings of work.
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) then came in in relief and gave up two runs over two innings of work.
The Eagles begin their conference schedule on April 7 against Northland College at Reynolds Field with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 pm.