The Macalester College Scots (11-13) defeated the University of Northwestern Eagles (14-13) 9-4 on Thursday afternoon in non-conference action. Northwestern took the 2-0 lead in the first thanks to three straight Eagles reaching base with one-out in the frame.
Max Barthel (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) drew a walk and then both
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) and
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled, which brought Barthel across the plate. Spencer scored on a
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) ground out, but Piersma was left stranded at third.
The wheels fell off in the bottom of the second, though, as Macalester scored five runs (all unearned) while only recording one hit. Three walks, three hit batters, and an error led to the runs for the Scots as they scored five times but left the bases loaded.
Northwestern added a third run in the seventh and threatened for more but was unable to add on.
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) led off with a walk and he advanced to second on a passed ball, to third via a wild pitch, and scored when
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) singled back up the middle with one out.
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) and
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) both walked to load the bases but the Eagles did not capitalize. Northwestern scored their fourth run in the ninth after
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) walked and
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) singled him to third. Simonson scored on an RBI groundout from
Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) which closed the scoring.
Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) got the start for the Eagles and was unable to make it out of the second inning.
Payton Brown (Elk River, Minn./PACT Charter) threw the next 4.1 innings and scattered six hits while allowing two earned runs. Brown was a key reason why Northwestern remained close throughout the middle innings of the game because he kept Macalester off balance for most of the night.
Dylan Ramberg (Harris, Minn./North Branch) pitched the final two and gave up two runs of his own in the bottom of the eighth.
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) drew two walks,
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) had a hit and a hit by pitch, and
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin),
Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau),
Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA), and
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) all had a hit and a walk.
Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) had two hits, a walk, a hit by pitch, and two runs scored to lead the offense.
Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) and
Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) both had an RBI and
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) had two.
The Eagles will return to action on Monday, April 22 when they travel down Snelling Avenue to take on the Bethel University Royals. First pitch of game number one is scheduled for 2:30 at Hargis Park.
