Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Tucson, Ariz. – The Northern State University Wolves went 1-1 on Wednesday in day three of the Tucson Invitational. NSU opened the day with a 17-12 loss to No. 2 St. Cloud State, however bounced back for the 18-4 defeat of Northwestern (IA). The Wolves improved to 3-1 overall heading into their off day, on Thursday.
 
St. Cloud State
 
The Wolves scored first against the Huskies, tallying one run in the bottom of the first inning. St. Cloud State however battled back for six runs in the second and held the lead for the following eight innings of play.
 
Jack Schmidt led the team going a perfect 5-for-5 with three runs scored, three runs batted in, and two extra base hits (double, homerun). Matt Stubbs was second on the team with four hits in six at-bats. Stubbs added two runs scored, four runs batted in, and two extra base hits (double, homerun). Braden Goldade was the final Wolf to tally a multiple hit game, going 3-for-5 from the plate with three runs scored and three runs batted in.
 
Northern combined for 17 team hits, seven of which were extra base connections. Tyler Gripentrog, Ben Allen, Ashton Williamson, Patrick Leary, and Mikey Barreneche tallied one hit each in the game. Northern suffered three errors on defense in the loss and gave up 21 hits to the Huskies.
 
Marcus Manderbach started on the hill for the Wolves, throwing two complete innings. Manderbach faced 14 batters, giving up six earned runs on six hits. Andrew Nichols entered for two innings of relief work, followed by freshman Brock Ragatz with two innings as well. Nate Zeise closed out the game for NSU throwing three complete innings.
 
Northwestern (IA)
 
The Raiders jumped out to a two run lead in the opening inning of play. Northern quickly answered back with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning led off by Tyler Gripentrog, who reached base in a hit-by-pitch. Easton Lopez stepped to the plate and smashed a homerun to left center field, tying the game for NSU.
 
The Wolves added another pair of runs in the second to capture the 4-2 lead. Northwestern answered with runs in the fourth and fifth, however the Wolves sealed the victory scoring three runs in the fourth, five in the fifth, and six in the sixth. The mercy rule victory was the first of the season for NSU.
 
Jack Schmidt continued a solid day for the Wolves going 4-for-4 in game two with a triple and four runs batted in. Easton Lopez and Matt Stubbs followed with three hits apiece in the victory, including a homerun each. Stubbs added four runs batted in, while Lopez notched two. Preston Brown connected for his first grand slam of the season in the bottom of the fifth, scoring Schmidt, Stubbs, and Lucas Lorenz. Ben Allen added two hits for NSU, while Tyler Gripentrog and Mikey Barreneche each notched one.
 
Cody Vandever earned his first win of the season, throwing six complete innings. The senior gave up only three earned runs on ten hits, and struck out five in the win. Isaiah Greene threw the seventh for the Wolves holding Northwestern hitless, while throwing 23 pitches.
 
Northern returns to action tomorrow from Tucson with a 4 p.m. (MT) match-up against Malone University.