Aberdeen, S.D. – The Northern State University baseball team tallied their first NSIC sweep of the season, defeating Southwest Minnesota State on Friday evening from Fossum Field. The Wolves downed the Mustangs with game scores of 3-1 and 9-6 improving to 11-15 overall and 4-10 in league action.
The Wolves scored first in game one, with a run in the bottom of the second.
Lucas Lorenz came around to score off a bunt single by
Easton Lopez. In the next frame however, the Mustangs answered with a run of their own tying things up. The Wolves battled though on offense, scoring a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth. Freshman
Ben Carolin doubled down the right field line scoring both
Easton Lopez and
Seth Sullwold on the play. The two runs held as the Wolves came away with the 3-1 victory.
Carolin was one of six Wolves to tally a single in the game, alongside Lorenz, Sullwold, Lopez, and
Patrick Leary.
Louie Carlos started for the Wolves earning his second win of the season. Carlos threw six complete innings giving up just one earned run on five hits. He also notched six strikeouts in the win.
Kris Johnson entered for the seventh and earned his first save of the season keeping the Mustangs off the base paths.
Southwest Minnesota State got to work in game two, scoring three runs in the top of the third to take the lead. The Wolves chipped away in the fifth with one run, and took the lead with four runs in the sixth. Lorenz led off the sixth innings for the Wolves with a walk and came around to score two at-bats later on a double down the right field line by Sullwold. The rally continued as Sullwold crossed home plate on a single through the 5-6-hole by
Easton Lopez.
Patrick Leary and
Ben Carolin then hit back-to-back doubles scoring both Lopez and Leary as the Wolves took the 5-3 lead.
Northern added four more runs in the seventh and eighth sealing the win and the day one sweep. The Mustangs did battle with three runs in the eighth and ninth however it was not enough to tie things up.
Four Wolves tallied multiple hits in game two, led by
Seth Sullwold going 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBI and a run scored. Carolin, Lopez, and
Ashton Williamson each tallied two hits as well, while
Mikey Barreneche, Lorenz, Gripentrog, and Leary notched a hit apiece.
Colton Landreth started for the Wolves throwing 4.0 innings with three runs on six hits and three strikeouts.
Andrew Nichols entered in relief and earned his first win of the season. Nichols threw four complete as well, giving up just one run on three hits and striking out five.
Isaiah Greene closed things out in the ninth, despite a two run rally by the Mustangs in the final frame.
The two teams will face off again tomorrow beginning at 4 p.m. from Fossum.
