FORT PIERCE, Fla.- The University of Northwestern Baseball team enjoyed a day off in Florida on Sunday but the competition started up again on Monday morning. UNW went up against Western Connecticut State and couldn't overcome an early deficit; dropping the contest 5-1.
Noah Skarda (Nipomo, Calif./St. Joseph's) got the ball for the purple and gold on the mound and retired the first two batters he faced via the groundball. Western Connecticut would find a way to put together a two out, first inning rally to score the first runs of the game. A single and stolen base put a runner in scoring position and a two out double broke the scoreless tie. Then a miscue from Northwestern's defense would allow an unearned run to come across the plate. The Eagles trailed 2-0 after one inning of play.
The Eagles threated to answer in the second inning when
Mark Bligh (Sydney, Australia/Magdalene Catholic College) hit a leadoff double.
Benji Bruce (Minneapolis, Minn./Maranatha Christian) would then reach base as well but a double play grounder and a fly out would end the Eagles' scoring chance.
In the bottom of the second, Skarda was once again hurt by unearned runs. He gave up a leadoff single, but immediately erased that runner with a 4-6-3 double play turned behind him. He picked up a strikeout which should have ended the inning but a dropped third strike allowed the runner to reach base. That runner would steal second base and then score thanks to an RBI single. Through two innings, UNW trailed 3-0 but only one of those runs was charged as an earned run to Skarda.
The Eagles would get the leadoff runner on base for the second consecutive inning when
Christian Raya (Moline, Ill./Moline) singled, but once again it would not lead to any runs. Western Connecticut extended their lead in the third inning with another pair of unearned runs. UNW trailed 5-0.
After a bumpy start to the game in which he allowed five runs (only one earned) in the first three innings, Skarda settled into a nice groove in the middle innings. The junior did not allow a hit in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings as he pitched three consecutive scoreless frames. The right hander finished the game with a line of six innings pitched, five hits allowed, one earned run allowed, and two strikeouts.
Simon Theisen (Bedford, Texas/Euless Trinity) would relieve Skarda in the seventh inning and pitch two innings of scoreless relief to keep the Eagles' deficit at five runs. The reliever only gave up one hit in two innings and picked up a strikeout.
After a challenging first three innings, the Eagles' pitching and defense had settled down and shut out the opponent from the fourth inning on, giving their offense a chance to come back in the contest. However, UNW's bats couldn't find a way to break through on the scoreboard.
Northwestern had two golden opportunities to score in the fourth and fifth innings. In the top of the fourth, Bligh picked up another leadoff hit (a single this time). After back-to-back fly outs, Pilon ripped a two out double and Bligh had to stop at third base. With runners on second and third and two outs, that first run continued to elude the Eagles and the runners were stranded.
In the fifth inning, Raya got on base to lead off the inning thanks to an error by the opposing shortstop.
Braden Storts (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka) got hit by a pitch and with one out
Grady Karges (Oriska, N.D./Maple Valley) reached base on an error by the centerfielder. With the bases loaded and one out, Western Connecticut was able to get back-to-back force outs at home plate and the Eagles remained scoreless.
UNW finally broke through in the ninth inning.
Isaac Pilon (Robbinsdale, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) walked and stole second base before reaching third base on a wild pitch.
Beau Rabey (Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake) singled him home for the Eagles' lone run of the game. Northwestern fell to Western Connecticut State 5-1.
The Eagles will be right back in action tomorrow (Tuesday, March 12
th) in a single nine inning game against Gettysburg College.
