Photo GalleryAberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team completed the day sweep of Minnesota Crookston at home from Fossum Field. The Wolves took game one 4-3, and game back for the 11-1 mercy rule victory in game two. The Wolves improve to 22-19 overall and 15-13 in Northern Sun league play.
Game One After going down 0-1 in the top of the first,
Lucas Lorenz put the Wolves back in the game with an absolute shot to left. Lorenz's tenth long ball of the season was a no doubter, clearing the fence and then some. The freshmen went 3-4 with two RBI in the game.
The Wolves gained the lead in the third, as
Tyler Gripentrog started the NSU rally with a walk. Gripentrog came around to score off
Mark Abrahamson's first double of the game. Abrahamson recorded his first RBI of the game, with the liner over the left fielders head. Mark went on to double to deep centerfield in the fifth for his second hit of the game.
Minnesota Crookston added two runs in the fifth to take the lead and force the Wolves to mount a comeback.
Jack Schmidt and
Alex Cornwell teamed up in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game at three all. Schmidt walked in the inning and came around to score off Cornwell's sacrifice fly to center.
Eric O'Bryan singled to right with one out, opening the sixth inning of the Wolves.
Lucas Lorenz continued his success with a double to center field. The UMC outfield shifted toward the left field line leaving a huge gap in centerfield. Lorenz accepted the challenge and connected for a double off the fence scoring O'Bryan.
Reliever
Marcus Manderbach held the Golden Eagles in the seventh throwing a one-two-three inning. Manderbach earned his second win of the season striking out one and holding UMC scoreless and hitless.
Colton Boucher started the game for Northern giving up three earned runs off eight hits in 5.2 innings of work. Bucher struck out four in the win.
Game Two The NSU offense was determined in game two, recording 16 hits and ten earned runs.
Jack Schmidt led the team going a perfect 4-for-4 from the plate with a double, triple, and one RBI.
Eric O'Bryan,
Tyler Gripentrog,
Mark Abrahamson,
Buddy Traxler, and
Alex Cornwell tallied multiple hit games in the win. The Wolves scored in six of the seven innings of play, with three important runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Mark Abrahamson and
Jack Schmidt reached base by virtue of an error and a single through the left side.
Riley Shintaffer advance the pair with a sacrifice bunt to the pitcher, to put the Wolves in scoring position for Cornwell.
Alex Cornwell turned on a fastball and belted a bomb into the right field lights. Cornwell finished the game with two hits and five RBI.
After giving up one run in the top of the first,
Cody Johns held the Golden Eagles scoreless through six innings of work. Johns threw seven innings giving up seven hits and one earned run. Johns struck out seven Golden Eagles in his fifth win of the season.
The NSU men return to Fossum Field tomorrow versus UMC. The two teams will face off at 12 p.m. in NSIC action.
