ST. PAUL, Minn. - MIAC week continues on for the University of Northwestern Baseball team, which is playing all five of its games this week against opponents from the other Division III conference in Minnesota. While mid-week, non-conference games often produce high scoring totals, this week has been the opposite for UNW, who has seen two outstanding pitching performances thus far. After
Christian Raya (Moline, Ill./Moline) threw 8.1 brilliant innings Monday at Macalester, freshman
Solomon Kardell (Coon Rapids, Minn./Legacy Christian Academy) followed suit Wednesday with an all-time performance, tossing a complete-game, one-hit shutout and striking out 10, while allowing just one walk as well. Kardell's offense backed him up as well, as the Eagles rolled to a 7-0 win at Reynolds Field.
Neither team was able to muster a hit until the bottom of the fourth inning, when
Kason Pietruszewski (Warroad, Minn./Warroad) led off with a single to center field. The speedy freshman eventually scored on a fielder's choice off the bat of
Parker Huebsch (Woodbury, Minn./New Life Academy) to give Northwestern a 1-0 lead that ultimately was all it needed to win the game. Hamline's only hit came soon after, in the top of the fifth, but a heady, defensive play by Pietruszewski at shortstop prevented the Piper from reaching third base. The Eagles got back-to-back singles in the bottom of the fifth from
Alex Klein (Olathe, Kans./Olathe Northwest) and
Jeremiah Holmes (West Covina, Calif./San Dimas), but were unable to bring either of them home.
In the sixth inning, UNW did not waste its opportunities, and took advantage of Hamline going to its bullpen.
Ben Hixon (Yorkville, Ill./Yorkville) and
Tony Greco (Janesville, Wis./Janesville Craig) hit consecutive singles to begin the frame, and a walk loaded the bases. Klein delivered a double to left-center field to bring two home, and a two-run double from Holmes, just moments later, made it 5-0. Northwestern was able to tack on two more in the bottom of the seventh, again in consecutive at-bats, when Hixon hit a sacrifice fly and Greco blasted a home run over the towering, left field wall. Kardell finished the job, striking out three in the final two innings to complete the historic pitching performance.
In addition to Kardell's gem, Klein and Holmes each smacked two hits and drove in two runs, while Greco's 2-4 day and home run produced one run. Hixon and Huebsch added RBIs as well, as eight of the nine Eagles who batted recorded hits.
UNW will continue its run of four games in three days against MIAC opponents Thursday at Augsburg. First pitch is scheduled for 6:00 PM.
