Kansas City, MO – After Northern State swept the opening doubleheader of the series a day ago, Rockhurst returned the favor as the Wolves dropped a pair of close games by scores of 6-4 and 5-4 on Sunday. While Northern out-hit the Hawks in both games, unearned runs proved to be the difference in each game.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 4, RU 6
Final Score Game 2: NSU 4, RU 5
Records: NSU 3-4, RU 2-9
Attendance: 60
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• It wasn't until the bottom of the third inning when Rockhurst struck first to break the scoreless tie, plating two runs to go up 2-0
• Northern State responded with two runs of their own in the top of the fourth inning as Gus Radel knocked a homerun to left field, scoring Reece Ragatz who singled to left-center the previous at-bat
• Max Otto struck out three consecutive batters in the bottom of the fourth, however the Hawks would take a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fifth with a pair of hits
• The Wolves got one run back in the top of the sixth when a bases loaded walk by Austin Portner allowed Kai Brisk to score and cut the lead to 5-3
• A solo homerun by RU in the bottom of the sixth pushed the lead back to three runs (6-3)
• Jordan DeMarce hit a leadoff single to left field and would later score on a single up the middle by Karson Hesser, however the Wolves would strand Hesser on first with a fly out and ground out to end the game
• Northern State scored their four runs off nine hits and committed one error defensively
• Otto suffered the loss on the mound for the Wolves in his second start of the season, falling to 0-1

 NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Gus Radel: 3-for-3, 1 double, 1 homerun, 2 RBI, 1 run scored
Jordan DeMarce: 2-for-3, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base
Max Otto: 5.0 innings pitched, 7 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After a 3-up, 3-down top half of the first for Northern State, Rockhurst once again stuck first with three consecutive singles to load the bases before a fielding error allowed the run to score and make it 1-0
• Niko Pezonella, Jack Paulson, and Easton Rerick all hit singles in the top of the second inning to load the bases, however a strikeout ended the inning to leave them stranded on base
• The Hawks extended the lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the third inning with a 2-run homerun
• Northern State got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning with a 2-run homerun to right field by Pezonella, scoring Gus Radel who hit a leadoff single to start the inning
• The Wolves tied the game at three in the top of fifth inning with a double to right-center by Kai Brisk, scoring Portner from second base
• The Hawks went 3-up, 3-down in the bottom of the fifth inning and Northern responded by taking the lead (4-3) in the top of the sixth inning on the second homerun of the game by Pezonella, a solo shot to right-center
• Rockhurst won the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, scoring on a wild pitch and a bases loaded walk
• Northern State scored their four runs off nine hits and committed two errors defensively
• Mitchell Tolk suffered the loss on the mound for the Wolves after pitching 1.1 innings in his second relief appearance of the season, falling to 1-1

 NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Niko Pezonella: 3-for-3, 2 homeruns, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored
Easton Rerick: 2-for-3, 1 double
Kai Brisk: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 hit-by-pitch, 1 RBI
 
UP NEXT
The Northern State baseball team is on the road once again next weekend as they travel to Lebanon, Illinois, for a 4-game series with McKendree University. The series gets underway on Friday (March 3) afternoon with one game at 2 p.m. at Hypes Field. The teams will then return to the diamond for a doubleheader on Saturday (March 4) with games slated for 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. before the series finale at 12 p.m. on Sunday (March 5) afternoon.