WHEATON, Ill.- The University of Northwestern Baseball team wrapped up their short trip to Illinois on Tuesday when they played a double header against two separate teams. The Eagles dropped the opening game to Saint Mary's (MN) 3-1 and the finale to #22 Aurora 10-0.
Game One
The first of the two games was a low scoring, well-pitched contest from both teams. After the first two innings came and went scoreless, the Eagles broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning.
The rally started when
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) hit a one out single to left field.
Daniel Peterson (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) would then be retired on a fielder's choice which allowed Crabb to advance 90 feet.
Benji Bruce (Minneapolis, Minn./Maranatha Christian), who had a strong stretch of games at the plate in Illinois, hit a single up the middle to score the first run of the game.
Saint Mary's would respond quickly in the top of the fourth inning. Now trailing 1-0, the Cardinals manufactured some runners on base thanks to two walks and a hit by pitch. SMU would then get their biggest hit of the afternoon: a single to right field which gave them a 2-1 lead. The rally would end there.
After the fourth inning, a pitchers' duel would commence. The fifth and sixth innings would pass without either team being able to push across another run. The only other run scored in the game would come when the Cardinals were up to bat in the seventh inning. SMU got a one out single and then followed it up with a double to left field. The runner would try to score on the double but a beautifully executed relay from the Eagles would cut the runner down at home. The relay went from
Grady Karges (Oriska, N.D./Maple Valley) in left, to the cutoff man
Beau Rabey (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake), to the catcher at home
CJ Toutant (Hortonville, Wis./Christian Liberty). The batter who hit the double would advance to third on the throw home, and would score on a passed ball later in the inning. The Cardinals led 3-1 after seven frames, and that score would hold up as the final.
Aaron Severson (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) was very strong on the mound for UNW, going seven innings, only giving up five hits and two earned runs, and picking up five strikeouts.
Ben Hixon (Yorkville, Illinois/Yorkville) would come in out of the bullpen and pitch two scoreless innings for the Eagles.
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) was a tough out at the plate going 3-3 while scoring a run.
Daniel Peterson (Burlington, Wis./Burlington) and
Benji Bruce (Minneapolis, Minn./Maranatha Christian) also added hits for Northwestern.
Game Two
The second game of the day was a higher scoring affair as the Eagles squared off against the explosive offense and dominant pitching of nationally ranked Aurora University.
Aurora would play small ball in the first inning as they stole second base while also stealing home for the game's opening run. In the fourth inning, the Spartans' bats began to hit their stride. They scored two more runs thanks to two RBI singles.
Already carrying a 3-0 lead, Aurora added some insurance runs later in the ball game. A two run homerun in the sixth inning pushed the lead to 5-0. The Eagles' pitching staff was fighting to keep them in the game but ran into some trouble in the eighth inning when the Spartans would score five more runs, ending the game at 10-0.
Bryce Crabb (Des Moines, Iowa/Grand View Christian) got the start for UNW and went six innings while giving up five runs. The senior had the strikeout pitch working as he picked up eight punch outs.
Alex Luepke (Mankato, Minn./Mankato West) turned in a strong inning of relief on the mound as he did not give up a run.
Isaac Pilon (Robbinsdale, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) had both of the hits for the Eagles' offense on the afternoon.
Up Next
After their trip to Illinois, the Eagles are on their way back to Minnesota where they will once again be at the mercy of the weather. UNW is scheduled to play their home opener against Gustavus Adolphus College on Friday, March 24
th. Any weather related cancellations or postponements can be found on unweagles.com.
