The #3 seeded University of Northwestern Eagles fell to the #2 seeded Bethany Lutheran College Vikings 13-6 on Thursday afternoon at Wade Stadium in Duluth.

The Vikings bats got off to a very fast start as they put up four runs in the bottom of the first inning.  The Eagles responded with a run of their own in the top of the second but stranded runners on the corners.  Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) was hit by a pitch and advanced to second on a wild pitch.  Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) hit a single to right and Wall was thrown out trying to score.  Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) drew his first of three weeks to make it first and second and then Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) got an RBI-single to drive home Krahn.

Northwestern tied the game up in the fourth inning, all with two-outs.  Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) drew a walk before Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled to make it first and second.  Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) hit an RBI single and then Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) had a two-run double to make the score 4-4.  Bethany Lutheran added four of their own in the bottom of the fourth and took the 8-4 lead, which they would never relinquish.

The Eagles threatened in the top of the fifth as Philip Wall (Juneau, Alaska/IDEA) hit a single and Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau) hit a double but they were both left stranded.  In the sixth, Northwestern scored two more two-out runs.  Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge) hit a single and then Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) hit a double to put two runners in scoring position.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) smacked a single up the middle to drive home both runners to cut the lead to 8-6.  The Vikings responded once again in the bottom of the frame as they scored four runs to extend their lead to 12-6.  

Northwestern put two more runners into scoring position in the seventh as Wakabayashi had a single and then Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) drew his third walk of the game.  They both advanced on a walk but were left stranded as well.  Bethany Lutheran added a thirteenth run in the bottom of the eighth and Northwestern was unable to add any more in the ninth.  

Every Eagle reached base during the game as Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge), Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin), and Bradley Spencer (Papillion, Neb./Papillion South) all reached base three times.  Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls), Aaron Krahn (Roseau, Minn./Roseau), and Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) all had two hits.  Northwestern collected 15 hits which is the second-most they've recorded all year.  Quinton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls) got the start and pitched the first four innings.  Chad Wakabayashi (Waipahu, Hawaii/Hanalani) threw the next two, Payton Brown (Elk River, Minn./PACT Charter) pitched the seventh, and Ryan Flanigan (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) the eighth.

Northwestern will play in an elimination game tomorrow at 1:00 pm at Wade Stadium against the #1 seed St. Scholastica who lost to #4 University of Wisconsin-Superior.  Fans can follow unweagles.com for more information.