ST. PAUL, Minn.- The University of Northwestern Baseball team hosted Augsburg University at Reynolds Field on Monday evening. The contest marked the Eagles' 40
th, and final, game of the season. UNW dropped their regular season finale to the visiting Auggies 13-3.
The Eagles and the Auggies opened the 2024 season at Reynolds Field, so it felt right that the Eagles and Auggies would end the 2024 regular season at Reynolds Field. On February 24
th, the Eagles came from behind to defeat the Auggies 8-7 in 10 innings.
Fast forward to Monday night, the Eagles jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first.
Braden Storts (Minnetonka, Minn./Minnetonka), who had introduced himself to UNW Baseball in the season opener against these Auggies, has become a mainstay in UNW's leadoff spot. He singled and stole second base to start the game.
Isaac Pilon (Robbinsdale, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) singled him home and the Eagles took an early 1-0 lead.
UNW's pitching staff held Augsburg scoreless through the first two frames of the contest. After a sluggish start, the Auggies' offense found its rhythm. Augsburg scored one in the third, three in the fourth, two in the fifth, one in the sixth, two in the seventh, and four in the eighth.
Northwestern got a run in each the fifth and sixth innings. In the fifth,
Bryce Campbell (New Hope, Minn./Robbinsdale Armstrong) scored on a
Mark Bligh (Sydney, Australia/Magdalene Catholic College) RBI single. In the sixth,
Jackson Sonquist (Minneapolis, Minn./Patrick Henry) hit a ball that was misplayed by the Auggies' pitcher.
Ben Hixon (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) scored on the play.
Augsburg would hold on for the 13-3 victory in their final game of the season.
Unlike Augsburg, Northwestern has more baseball left to play. In fact, they have their most important baseball of the season left to play. The UMAC Postseason Tournament will commence from Reynolds Field on Thursday, May 9
th.
The Eagles went 16-5 in UMAC play this season to snag the #2 seed in the tournament. Reynolds Field is the host site for this year's tournament which means that the Eagles will have home field advantage throughout. UNW will participate in the tournament's opening game on Thursday. The Eagles will play the #3 seed Wisconsin-Superior at 4:00 PM. The Eagles took two of three games against the Yellowjackets during the regular season. After Northwestern's game concludes, top seeded Bethany Lutheran will play #4 Crown at 7:00 PM. The tournament is double elimination.
