The University of Northwestern Eagles defeated the Muskingum Muskies 12-11 on Saturday morning. The Muskies jumped to an early 3-0 lead before the Eagles responded in the bottom of the fourth.
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) doubled after
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) reached base to make it second and third with no outs before
Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) brought in Peterson with an RBI groundout.
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) singled to bring home Krahn and
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) scored on a wild pitch to tie the game at three.
The Muskies responded by adding two in the top of the fifth and three more in the sixth. The Eagles took the lead for good, though, in the bottom half of the frame as they went ahead 9-8. Ten Eagles came to the plate as UNW scored six runs on seven hits. The inning was highlighted by a pinch-hit two-run single by
Eric Peterson (Coon Valley, Wis./Westby) to bring the game within one.
Northwestern scored three more times in the seventh as
Holt Goodwin (Orinda, Calif./Miramonte),
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South), and
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) all scored with
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) contributing a key double down the left field line. The Muskies made it interesting in the eighth by scoring three runs to make it 12-11, but that is all they could muster as Simonson shut the door with the save.
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) (1-0) got the start on the mound and threw the first six innings.
Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) pitched the next 1.1 innings before
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) got his first save of the season. The batting leaders were
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) who reached base three times and scored two runs,
Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) who was 4-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, and
Parker Seachrist (Effingham, Ill./Effingham) who was 2-4 with two RBIs and a run scored in his collegiate debut.
The Eagles next play on Monday at 10 am versus North Park University on Field Two after an off-day on Sunday.