St. Paul, Minn. –– The University of Northwestern baseball team (7-4) defeated UW-Superior (4-12) 4-3 on Friday afternoon to improve to 2-0 in UMAC play.
Keegan Vercoe (Queen Creek, Ariz./Poston Butte) gave the Eagles an early lead as he blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the first. Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) had recorded a one-out single to center right before Vercoe's shot to left-center field. Both teams had multiple chances to get runners across the plate in the early innings, but the Yellow Jackets were the next to cash in when a leadoff double came around to score to cut the lead in half.
Superior recorded a one-out double in the top of the sixth before Trey Boushee (Fosston, Minn./Fosston) made an outstanding full-extension diving catch to end the inning to preserve the one-run lead. Northwestern followed by adding two key insurance runs in the bottom of the frame, as Crabb led off with an infield single. In a carbon copy of the first, Vercoe followed with a two-run blast to right-center field this time. After squaring to bunt on the 0-1 pitch, Vercoe managed to get just enough on the 0-2 offering to carry it over the fence and extend the lead to three.
Superior struck back with two in the top of the eighth, and it required an incredible effort by Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) on the mound to preserve the lead. Three straight men reached to start the frame before Severson came in to relieve Nick Drinken (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) with runners on the corners. Christian Garcia greeted him with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to one with a runner on first. A single and a wild pitch put two runners in scoring position. The sophomore then forced a ground ball to Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) at second, who threw home to gun down the tying run. Cramer Hamilton (Apple Valley, Calif./Excelsior) threw out the potential go-ahead run during the next at-bat trying to steal second. Northwestern rode that momentum to hold on to the 4-3 victory.
Nick Drinken (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) (3-0) got the ball for the Eagles, and he toed the rubber for a strong seven innings in the first conference start of his young career. A strong contingent of the football team came out to support their quarterback as the dual-sport athlete showed his dominance on the diamond as well. He gave up three earned runs while striking out three. Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) recorded his third save of the season as he pitched the final two innings, including getting out of the jam in the eighth.
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) went 3-4 at the plate with two runs scored, while Vercoe was 2-4 with two home runs and all four RBIs. Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) and Mason Skrede (Viroqua, Wis./Viroqua) tallied the other two Eagle hits.
Up Next
The Eagles continue their three-game set against Superior on Saturday, April 2nd. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 2:00 pm at Reynolds Field.
