Kansas City, MO – Northern State swept Rockhurst in Saturday's doubleheader, winning 6-5 and 11-4 in Kansas City. The Wolves had to fend off a late Hawk rally in the first game however they left no doubt in the second game as it was all Northern from the start after a grand slam by Kai Brisk in the top of the first inning.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 6, RU 5
Final Score Game 2: NSU 11, RU 4
Records: NSU 3-2, RU 0-9
Attendance: 80
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Northern State broke the game open with five runs in the top of the second inning
• Niko Pezonella drew a walk on the second at-bat of the inning and came around to score the next at-bat on a double to left-center by Gus Radel
• Easton Rerick followed-up Radel's double with a 2-run homerun to right-center, pushing the lead to 3-0 early on
• Austin Portner reached base on a double down the left field line and crossed home plate after Jack Paulson sent the third double of the inning to left field; an RBI single by Karson Hesser scored Paulson and capped the scoring in the inning with the Wolves up 5-0
• In the top of the third Rerick knocked a double to left-center to score Radel and extend the lead to 6-0, however Rockhurst would plate their first run of the game in the bottom half of the inning with cut the lead back to five runs at 6-1
• The Hawks made one final push in the bottom of the seventh with two outs, scoring one run on an RBI single which loaded the bases and then clearing the bases the next at-bat with a double to right-center; Brian Baker ended the game with a strikeout to leave the winning run stranded at second base
• Northern State scored their six runs off nine hits, and committed four errors defensively in the game
• Baker pitched a complete game for the Wolves on the mound in his second start of the season, picking up the win to improve to 1-1

 NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Brian Baker: 7.0 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts, win (1-1)
Easton Rerick: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 homerun, 3 RBI, 1 run scored
Gus Radel: 2-for-3, 2 doubles, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Northern State grabbed the momentum right from the start as Jordan DeMarce and Karson Hesser were each hit by a pitch and Jack Paulson drew a walk before Kai Brisk cleared the bases with a grand slam to center field in only the fourth at-bat of the game
• Rockhurst scored two runs in the bottom of the first to cut the lead to 4-2
• The team's combined only two hits from the second inning through the fifth inning before the Wolves plated five more runs in the top of the sixth
• Gus Radel and Mitchell Tolk each singled to right field to open the sixth inning before a sacrifice fly by Tyler Kimm scored Radel to push the lead to 5-2
• Austin Portner and Mateo Tahsini were each hit by a pitch to then load the bases; the next at-bat DeMarce would reach base on a fielding error by the first baseman, allowing Tolk to score and extend the lead to 6-2
• A 2-RBI single up the middle by Hesser scored Tahsini and Portner to make it an 8-2 game and DeMarce would end the scoring in the inning after crossing home plate on a wild pitch
• Kimm hit a solo homerun to left field in the top of the seventh, making the score 10-2, however the Hawks would only score one in the bottom of inning to cut the lead to seven and left the bases loaded
• RU scored their final run of the game on an RBI single up the middle in the bottom of the eighth inning to cut the NSU lead to 10-4
• Brisk would score NSU's final run of the game in the top of the ninth, scoring from third on a wild pitch to push the lead back to 11-4
• Northern State scored their 11 runs off nine hits, and committed only two errors defensively in the game
• Michael Chevalier pitched 6.0 innings for the Wolves on the mound in his second start of the season, picking up the win to improve to 1-0

 NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Michael Chevalier: 6.0 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, win (1-0)
Kai Brisk: 2-for-5, 1 homerun, 4 RBI, 2 runs scored
Tyler Kimm: 1-for-3, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
 
UP NEXT
Northern State and Rockhurst have agreed to push up the start time of tomorrow's doubleheader at Loyola Park Baseball Field in Kansas City. The first pitch between the Wolves and Hawks is now scheduled for 10 a.m. for the first game and 12 p.m. for the series finale.