ST. PETER, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Baseball team entered back into nonconference play after playing a string of consecutive conference games last week. The Eagles traveled down to St. Peter to take on the Gusties of Gustavus Adolphus College. The Gusties swept the doubleheader, winning by scores of 9-2 and 5-0.
Game One
The Eagles drew first blood in the top half of the first when
Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded. The sophomore showed good patience at the plate, drawing a walk to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
Gustavus would answer back in the second inning when they scored a run on a fielder's choice. The Gusties would then take the lead in the third inning on a groundout to second base, and the Gusties would not surrender the lead for the rest of the game.
The Eagles would get their second run of the game in the sixth inning off of another bases loaded situation.
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) would ground into a double play and
Trey Boushee (Fosston, Minn./Fosston) would score on the play. This made the game 3-2, but the Gusties would blow the game open by scoring the next six runs to win the game 9-2.
Sam Ludzack (Shakopee, Minn./Shakopee) got the start for the Eagles and pitched three innings.
Noah Skarda (Nipomo, Calif./St. Joseph's) and
Sam Szymanski (Woodbury, Minn./Homeschool) would pitch out of the bullpen for the Eagles in the game.
Payton Christenson (St. Croix Falls, Wis./St. Croix Falls),
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian), and
Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) led the Eagles' offense with two hits apiece.
Keegan Vercoe (Queen Creek, Ariz./Poston Butte) and
Cramer Hamilton (Apple Valley, Calif./Excelsior) also reached base twice for the Eagles.
Game Two
Dominant pitching was the story for the Gusties in the final game of the doubleheader. Gustavus would use five pitchers in the game, not give up a run, and only surrender one hit to the Eagles in the contest.
Sam Peterson (Aitkin, Minn./Aitkin) had the lone hit in the game for the Eagles.
The Gusties got their offense going immediately with a solo homerun in the first inning. The home team would then score an unearned run in the fifth inning, and three more runs to slam the door on the Eagles in the sixth inning.
Nick Drinken (Randolph, Minn./Randolph) got the start on the mound for the Eagles and pitched well. The sophomore pitched 4.1 innings and gave up two runs, but only one of the runs was earned. Drinken struck out five Gustie batters in the game.
Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) would pitch the final 1.2 innings for the Eagles.
Up Next
The Eagles will now enter back into UMAC play as they host the Morris Cougars in a three game series this weekend at Reynolds Field. The Eagles will play once on Sunday, and two on Saturday.
