Liberty, Mo. – The Northern State University baseball team opened their 3-game series against William Jewell with a 12-5 win on Friday afternoon. The Wolves improve to 6-4 overall on the year, and take the 1-0 non-conference series lead over the Cardinals.
Northern scored first in the win with three runs on three hits in the top of the second. The NSU offense continued to roll notching four more runs in the third, and two runs in both the fifth and seventh. The Wolves held an 11-0 lead through the first 6.5 innings of play, however William Jewell put up five runs in the bottom of the seventh cutting into the NSU lead. Northern added some insurance in the top of the ninth with one run taking the 12-5 lead. The Wolves combined for 17 hits and 12 runs in the game, with seven players notching multiple hits.
Patrick Leary led the team at the plate going 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and one run scored. The Wolves junior notched a double, a triple, and two bunt singles on suicide squeeze plays.
Ashton Williamson was second on the team going 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Williamson entered the game with just one season hit, while Leary had yet to tally his first of the year.
Mikey Barreneche,
Jack Schmidt,
Ben Allen,
Seth Sullwold, and
Easton Lopez each tallied two hits in the win, combining for two extra base hits, seven runs scored, and four RBI. Barreneche and Schmidt each tallied triples as the Wolves knocked out a combined five extra base hits.
Lucas Lorenz notched an RBI, a run scored, and a stolen base, while
Ben Carolin led the team with two stolen bases in one trip around the bases.
Nick Hoffard started on the mound for the Wolves throwing his first win of the 2017 season. The senior threw six scoreless innings, giving up just five Cardinal hits. He added four strikeouts and walked three, bringing his season record to 1-1 in 2017.
Phil Sauer,
Isaiah Greene, and
Kris Johnson entered in relief with Greene and Johnson both holding the Cardinals scoreless as well. The Northern State defense played well giving up just one error in the nine innings of work and holding the Cardinals scoreless in six of the nine innings with runners on base.
The Wolves will match-up again with the Cardinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. and Sunday at 12 p.m. from Talley Stadium in Liberty.
