Sanford, Fla. – The Northern State baseball team picked up their second win of the week in Friday's opener, with a 3-1 win over Lewis University. The Wolves first game of the day once again fell victim to the weather, with the game against the Flyers being called final during a weather delay after five complete innings of play. Friday's nightcap featured a game that was added last minute against NSIC foe Wayne State, where the Wildcats out-lasted the Wolves 9-7.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, LU 1
Final Score Game 2: NSU 7, WSC 9
Records: NSU 4-6, LU 2-8, WSC 5-6
Attendance Game 1: 148
Attendance Game 2: 65
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Neither team recorded a hit till Reece Ragatz hit a single into left field in the bottom of the second inning
• Brian Baker struck out back-to-back hitters to end the top of the third inning, preventing Lewis' Joe Preussner to score from third base
• The Flyers were able to plate the first run of the game in the top of the fourth inning when Kevin Barry grounded out to score Gavin Kriegel
• Northern State responded quickly in the bottom half of the fourth, scoring three runs of their own
• Gus Radel doubled to center field to score Ragatz for the first run of the game for the Wolves
• Two at bats later, with the bases loaded, Austin Portner singled through the left side of the infield to score both Radel and Ramon Vega Jr. to give Northern a 3-1 lead
• The game came to a halt in the top of the sixth inning due to a lightning delay, and was ultimately declared final having played five complete innings
• The Wolves scored their three runs on five hits, and did not commit an error defensively
• Baker earned his first win of the season on the mound, and pitched all five innings in the game

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Brian Baker: 5.0 innings pitched, 1 earned run, 4 hits, 7 strikeouts
Reece Ragatz: 2-for-3, 1 run
Austin Portner: 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Gus Radel: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 run, 1 RBI
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Wayne State struck first on scoreboard in the top of the second inning, Chase Douglas singled to left field to score Nate Sailors; followed by Colin Lynam hitting a double to center field to score Cam Madsen and Douglas
• Northern State got on the board in the bottom of the third inning when Karson Hesser singled to center field and scored Austin Portner
• The Wildcats tacked on another run in the top of the fifth inning, but Northern State was once again able to cut into the lead in the sixth when a single by Isaiah Chevalier scored Alex Gauer and Connor Knecht
• In the top half of the seventh inning WSC plated three runs to make the game 7-3 in their favor, however a double to right field by Knecht allowed Reece Ragatz to touch home plate and cut the deficit back to three
• The Wayne State bats remained hot in the eighth inning when the Wildcats added two more runs to push the lead to 9-4
• Kai Brisk would not allow Northern State to go down without a fight when he hit a 3-run homerun to left field in the bottom of the ninth inning however the NSU rally would fall just short
• The Wolves scored their seven runs on ten hits, and committed four errors defensively
• Andrew Pugliano suffered the loss on the mound for Northern, in his first start of the season he went 4.2 innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits, while striking out seven batters

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Kai Brisk: 1-for-1, 1 homerun, 1 run, 3 RBI
Isaiah Chevalier: 2-for-4, 2 RBI
Connor Knecht: 1-for-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 walk
Mike Stubbs: 1.2 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 1 hit, 4 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
Northern State baseball is back in action Saturday afternoon when they play Malone University. First pitch between the Wolves and Pioneers is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. central time at Northeast Regional Park in Davenport, Florida.