Fayette, Iowa – The Northern State baseball team secured their first series win of the conference season on Monday afternoon, earning wins of 3-2 and 4-2 on the road at Upper Iowa. Jack Paulson and Ramon Vega Jr. paved the way for the Wolves offense, as each of them hit crucial homeruns to take the lead in game one and tie the game in game two.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, UIU 2
Final Score Game 2: NSU 4, UIU 2
Records: NSU 8-9 (3-1 NSIC), UIU 2-14 (0-5 NSIC)
Attendance: 58
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Upper Iowa scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when Ethan Sawyer hit a single to center field to score Nicholas Vite
• Jack Paulson gave Northern State a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning with a 3-run homerun to left field, scoring Karson Hesser and Brandon Kusler
• The Peacocks threatened late in the seventh inning scoring one run to make it a 3-2 game with only one out and the bases loaded, however Mike Stubbs entered in relief to record the final two outs of the game
• NSU left only three runners on base in the game, compared to nine for UIU
• The Wolves scored their three runs on three hits and did not commit an error defensively
• Brian Baker recorded his second win of the season on the mound, pitching 6.1 innings in the start; Stubbs notched his first save of the season while pitching in relief

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Jack Paulson: 1-for-3, 1 homerun, 1 run, 3 RBI
Karson Hesser: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 run
Isaiah Chevalier: 1-for-2, 1 stolen base
Brian Baker: win (2-1), 6.1 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 3 hits, 7 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Northern State scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when Karson Hesser hit a single up the middle to score Ramon Vega Jr. from second base
• Upper Iowa responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with two runs of their own as Tanner Stein reached base on a throwing error and scored Ethan Sawyer, followed by Samuel Grushkin hitting a single through the left side of the infield to score Kainoa Torres
• Vega Jr. evened the game back up at two a piece with a homerun to left field in the seventh inning
• Northern regained the lead later in the inning when Hesser hit a triple to right center, and Jack Paulson's sacrifice fly to right field on the next at bat allowed him to score
• The Wolves tacked on another run in the eighth when Niko Pezonella scored on a wild pitch
• Northern State scored their four runs on ten hits and committed two errors defensively
• While getting the start on the mound Michael Chevalier earned his first career victory, throwing six complete innings
• In relief Christian Mundt pitched two complete innings, only allowing two hits, and throwing two strikeouts; Mitchell Tolk entered in the ninth inning and recorded his first career save

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Karson Hesser: 3-for-5, 1 triple, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
Ramon Vega Jr.: 2-for-4, 1 double, 1 homerun, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Jack Paulson: 1-for-4, 1 double, 1 RBI
Michael Chevalier: win (1-0), 6.0 innings pitched, 2 earned runs, 5 hits, 7 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
Northern State and Upper Iowa will play the third and final game of their 3-game series tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. at Robertson Woods Field in Fayette, Iowa.