Rocamora_UIU

Wolves Sweep UIU, Win Eighth-Straight

4/10/2014 7:17:00 PM

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Photo Gallery

The Northern State baseball team got some timely hitting and pitching Thursday afternoon as the Wolves swept Upper Iowa 8-5 and 5-4. NSU has now won eight games in-a-row which is a new program record for the Wolves since joining NCAA Division II.

In game one, the Wolves (17-10, 10-6 NSIC) looked to be in serious trouble as they trailed 5-0 going to the bottom of the sixth and had just two hits on the day prior to the inning. The Northern bats exploded in the inning though as the Wolves scored all eight of their runs in the sixth.

Rocamora got the rally going with an RBI double off the center field fence that scored Matt Stubbs. The next batter, Derek Tymesen was brought in to pinch hit for the Wolves and he delivered as he blasted a three-run home run to left center field that cut the Wolves' deficit to just 5-4. Three batters later with two outs, Clayton Nutting tied the game with an RBI single that scored Buddy Traxler. After a Stubbs walk, Maurice Rodriguez reached on an error and Alex Cornwell scored what ended up being the game-winning run. However, NSU was not done there as Tyler Gripentrog singled to right center that scored two and the Wolves were posted to an 8-5 lead.

Colton Boucher took it from there for Northern as he shut down the Peacocks (8-11, 1-5 NSIC) in the seventh inning. Boucher picked up his team-high fourth win in the victory. Boucher went the distance allowing four earned runs on seven hits while striking out 10 Peacock batters.

It was a team effort in the first game as eight different Wolves collected the team's hits in the victory and seven different players scored.

Game two was a back-and-forth affair as NSU jumped out to an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs in the third inning. Nutting scored Eric O' Bryan with a double while Stubbs brought in Nutting with a single to left field.

UIU responded with three runs scored in the fifth inning to take a 3-2 lead. A Rodriguez double in the bottom of the inning tied the game at 3-3. The Peacocks again took the lead in the seventh with a run but it was Rodriguez who delivered again for the Wolves as he doubled down the left field line in the seventh to score Stubbs and Nutting and give the Wolves a 5-4 lead they wouldn't surrender.

Rodriguez finished the game going 2-for-3, both doubles, and three RBI. Nutting and Stubbs both collected an RBI and scored two runs for NSU in the win. Andrew Crisman pitched a fine three innings of relief to pick up his first win of the season. Crisman pitched a shutout in relief for the Wolves while allowing three hits and striking out three. Cody Johns got the start for the Wolves, pitching six innings and allowing three earned runs.

Northern has its off weekend this weekend but return to action with a busy week at Fossum Field next week. The Wolves face Minot State in a doubleheader Wednesday beginning at 1 p.m. Minnesota State comes to town Friday and Saturday for a four-game set.

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