The University of Northwestern Eagles (21-15, 8-6 UMAC) split with the University Minnesota-Morris Cougars on Thursday to clinch a UMAC playoff berth.  Morris won the first game 9-6 before Northwestern won game two 10-6.  Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) set the single-season saves record with his eighth save of the season in the nightcap.

Game One
Morris scored five in the bottom of the first and added a sixth in the second.  Northwestern mounted a mini-comeback in the top of the third as they added two runs in the frame.  Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton)  and Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled to start the inning before Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) reached via an error.  He smacked a ball to deep center field that bounced off the center fielder's glove, which brought Szafraniec to the plate.  Piersma then scored via an Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) sacrifice fly to bring the Eagles within four.

Morris added a seventh run in the bottom of the fifth but Northwestern responded with two more in the sixth.  Morrell reached via another error to start the frame before Simonson singled to left.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) grounded out but he brought home Morrell and Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) singled to left center to drive home Simonson.  Northwestern added two more in the eighth as Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) smacked his fourth home run of the season.

Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) got the start and gave up six earned runs over seven innings before Dylan Ramberg (Harris, Minn./North Branch) pitched the eighth.  Northwestern had seven hits on the day as Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) was the only Eagle to have multiple hits.

Game Two
Northwestern jumped out to the early lead as they scored five runs in the top of the second.  Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) led off with a double and Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) reached via a fielding error.  Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) walked to load the bases before Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) drew an RBI-walk.  Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled through the left side which brought home two runs and advanced Szafraniec to third.  Piersma and Szafraniec executed a double steal and Simonsonhit a sacrifice fly to bring in Piersma.

Morris added two runs in the bottom of the third but Northwestern added on in the fifth.  Wall walked, Wakabayashi doubled, before Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) drew a walk to load the bases.  GuerinSzafraniec hit a sacrifice fly to drive home Wall to expand the Eagles lead.  Northwestern added another run in the sixth after Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) walked, stole second, and then advanced to third via a wild pitch.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) singled to right to drive home Simonson and Wall hit another single but Wakabayashi flew out to end the inning.

Morris took advantage of four errors in the bottom of the sixth to score three unearned runs and added another in the seventh to make it 7-6 Northwestern.  The Eagles added two insurance runs in the eighth as Simonson singled to right before Peterson doubled to left to drive him in.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) singled and then Wall followed with a single to drive home Peterson.  Northwestern added a tenth run in the ninth as Szafraniec and Piersma led off with walks.  Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) dropped down a sacrifice bunt and Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) drew a two-out walk to load the bases.  Szafraniec scored on a wild pitch before Lindow flied out to end the frame.

Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) had three hits and drew two walks to reach base five times.  Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) had two hits and drew a walk and Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) had one hit and two walks.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) had two hits and Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) had a hit and a walk to be the only other Eagles to reach base multiple times.  Quinton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) got the start and pitched seven innings and gave up three earned runs.  Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) got his record setting save as he threw the last two innings and struck out three.

UNW will return to action on Wednesday, May 4th in a conference matchup against North Central with first pitch scheduled for 1:30 at Reynolds Field.  Follow Eagles baseball online this season at www.unweagles.com.