Complete Statistics

PHOENIX, Ariz. – The Northern State baseball squad got off to a slow start to the season, dropping their first four games of the year at the RussMat Invitational games in Phoenix, but came roaring back in the second half of the week, winning their final four games to even out their record at 4-4 after the season-opening week.
 
The Wolves averaged more than nine runs per game in those final four victories, which included 12-run wins over Rockford College and Malone University plus a double-header sweep of Indiana Wesleyan to close out the week.
 
NSU pitchers Sean Winslow, Nathan Nietfeld, Kris Keating and Zach Miller each picked up a win, while senior Trent Bestland earned two saves in three relief appearances in that final four stretch.  Winslow posted a team-best 1.00 ERA in two starts, allowing just one earned run (out of eight) in nine innings of work.
 
Offensively, sophomore Robbie Rocamora led the way at the plate, going 10-for-26 with two triples and nine RBI in seven games.  Junior newcomer Brent Lawrence also posted solid numbers, going 8-for-23 with six walks and seven driven in.  Lawrence smacked a 2-run double in the bottom of the seventh against IWU to live the Wolves to a 9-8 win in their final game of the week.
 
Fellow newcomer Buddy Traxler drilled the team's first home run of the season, a 2-run shot in NSU's 4-1 win over Indiana Wesleyan.
 
The Wolves are back in action quickly, taking on Concordia-St. Paul and Southwest Minnesota State in a pair of non-conference doubleheaders on Thursday and Friday, respectively.  Those match-ups will take place in the Metrodome in Minneapolis.