Tucson, Ariz. – The Northern State University baseball team dropped their second game of the season Wednesday morning to Malone University. The Wolves fell 5-3, moving to 3-2 overall this season.
 
The Pioneers took the 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth, however the Wolves battled back in the bottom of the seventh to take the lead. Jack Schmidt and Lucas Lorenz drew back-to-back two out walks leaving two runners on for the NSU rally. Ben Allen reach on an error, while Mike Severson scored both Lorenz and Schmidt on a single by the pinch hitter.
 
The Wolves held Malone scoreless through the top of the eighth and added an insurance run in the bottom half of the inning, however the Pioneers put together a four run, four hit inning in the top of the ninth to take the lead and the game. Easton Lopez doubled with one out in the eighth, and game around to score off a Tyler Gripentrog single just two batters later.
 
NSU tallied just five team hits in the game off the bats of Gripentrog, Schmidt, Severson, Lopez, and Tyler Hair. Severson and Gripentrog combined for the three RBI in the game, while Schmidt, Lorenz, and Lopez scored for the Wolves.
 
Nick Hoffard started on the bump for the Wolves throwing 7.1 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run with three strikeouts. Nate Zeise, Sam Krapf, and Kris Johnson entered in relief throwing a combined 1.2 innings. Krapf suffered the loss throwing to six hitters, while giving up four runs on four hits.
 
The Wolves will face the University of Winnipeg and Southwest Minnesota State University tomorrow in a pair of games. First pitch with the Wesmen is scheduled for 12 p.m., with the match-up against the Mustangs scheduled for 4 p.m. from the Kino Sports Complex.