The University of Northwestern baseball team (2-0) opened up its 2019 season with a sweep against Wilkes University (2-6). The Eagles won game one 4-3 and game two 7-4.
Game One
The Eagles jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second as
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) drove home
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton). Wilkes scored twice to take the lead in the top of the fifth and once more in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles responded in a big way in the bottom of the sixth.
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) doubled home
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) and Spencer to tie it up and then
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) got a two-out single to score Morrell.
Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) got the start and gave up no earned runs in his six innings of work and scattered seven hits while walking none and striking out three.
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) had his collegiate debut on the mound and got the save as he struck out two in his inning of work.
Game Two
The Eagles took the lead right out of the gate as
Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) doubled to bring home
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) in the top of the first.
Holt Goodwin (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) hit a sacrifice fly in the third inning to score
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) and Northwestern took a 2-0 lead. The Colonels scored four times in the bottom of the third, though, to take a 4-2 lead.
The Eagles scored in the top of the fourth as
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) had an RBI walk. UNW scored twice in the fifth to take the lead as
Tyler Stopera (St. Anthony Village, Minn./St. Anthony Village) and
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) singled home
Holt Goodwin (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte) and
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South), respectively. The Eagles extended their lead in the seventh as
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled home Spencer and Stopera scored after hitting a ringing double down the left field line.
Sam Ludzack (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) got his first victory on the mound as the freshman threw five innings and gave up four runs while striking out two.
Quinton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) got the save as he pitched the final two innings and gave up four base runners and struck out one.
Northwestern will return to action on Saturday morning when they take on Muskingum University at 9:30. The games will take place at Lawnwood Field #3. The Eagles also play a JV game at 6:00 Saturday night on Lawnwood Field #1.
