MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The University of Northwestern baseball team opened 2020 action in a late night series at U.S. Bank Stadium Tuesday beginning at 10 p.m. The Eagles matched-up with MIAC opponent, St. Olaf College for a pair of non-conference seven-inning games. The Oles took game one, 4-0 before completing the sweep with a 5-2 second win.
 
The Eagles swept St. Olaf in a pair of contests last season, but the teams even it out following Tuesday's outing. Northwestern will hunt for their first win of the year as they prepare for a spring trip to Fort Pierce, FL where they will play five games beginning Friday, March 6.
 
St. Olaf 4, Northwestern 0
Following five scoreless innings of action, St. Olaf put together four runs on three hits in the top of the sixth to take the definitive lead. Despite the Oles productive inning, the Eagles would also put together four hits in the game, but none producing the needed runs.
 
Andrew Simonson (Hudson, Wis./East Ridge), Carlton Lindow (Cannon Falls, Minn./Cannon Falls), Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) and Caleb Peirsma would each connect for a hit. St. Olaf's Sam Westermeyer would lead the Oles to the four-hit shutout, striking out five.
 
UNW ace, Phillip Wall, got the nod for Northwestern in game one – throwing 5.1 innings and allowing three hits and walking five. Noah Couwenhoven (Fridley, Minn./Bethel) made his first collegiate appearance, throwing 1.2 and allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out one.
 
St. Olaf 5, Northwestern 2
The Oles got off to a 2-0 start after two complete in game two before UNW game battling back. Caleb Piersma (Pella, Iowa/Pella) singled up the middle in the top of the third and Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) advanced him to second on a single of his own. Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) connected on a shot to left field, driving Piersma home for the Eagles first run of the night.
 
Northwestern tied it up at two apiece in the top of the fourth when a Max Barthel (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) single combined with two St. Olaf errors and a RBI ground out from Guerin Szafraniec (Brighton, Colo./Brighton) put the Eagles back in business.
 
Unfortunately, the Oles would put together four more hits and three runs in the final two innings to secure the 5-2 win.
 
Max Barthel (Farmington, Minn./Farmington) led UNW at the plate, going 2-for-3. Northwestern would record seven hits but strand five runners on base.
 
Wyatt Morrell (Elk River, Minn./Home School) started on the mound, throwing 4.1 innings to allow five hits and two earned runs. Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing two hits and a run.
 
The Eagles will return to action on Friday, March 6 when they take on Houghton College in Fort Pierce, Florida. First pitch is slated for 4 p.m. (EST).
 
Follow Northwestern baseball online this season at www.unweagles.com or on Instagram at @unwbaseballmn.