Elkhorn, Neb. – Northern State and Wayne State battled it out in a pair of 1-run contests on Wednesday in Elkhorn, however the Wolves were unable to come out on top in either match-up as they dropped the games by scores of 2-1 and 7-6. While the teams were even with five hits apiece in the opening game of the doubleheader, Northern was able to out-hit Wayne State 9-8 in the second game.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 1, WSC 2
Final Score Game 2: NSU 6, WSC 7
Records: NSU 5-11 (0-5 NSIC), WSC 8-11 (2-3 NSIC)
Attendance: 95
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Neither team was able to gain the advantage early on as each team only managed three hits through five innings of play; while on the mound Michael Chevalier sent Wayne State down in order in two of the first three innings
• The Wildcats were able to break through and score the first runs of the game in the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2-RBI single to right center, giving WSC the 2-0 lead
• Mitchell Tolk scored the lone run of the game for Northern State as he knocked a solo homerun out to left field in the top of the seventh inning, cutting the deficit to 2-1
• In his fifth start of the season Michael Chevalier (2-2) suffered the loss on the mound, pitching 5.2 innings and throwing five strikeouts
• Jake Helleloid struck out the lone batter that he faced as he entered in relief in the bottom of the sixth inning
• Northern State scored their one run off five hits and did not commit an error defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Mitchell Tolk: 1-for-1, 1 homerun, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Michael Chevalier: 5.2 innings pitched, 5 strikeouts
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Wayne State struck early on the scoreboard with three runs in the top of the first inning off a single and pair of doubles to take a 3-0 lead
• Northern State tied the game in the top of the third inning with three runs of their own, as an RBI single by Andrew Wedwick scored Kai Brisk and a 2-RBI single by Karson Hesser brought home Wedwick and Mitchell Tolk
• The Wolves took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth as a passed ball in a bases loaded situation allowed Jackson Meyer to cross home plate
• The Wildcats were able to get the one run back in the bottom of the fourth on another passed ball, and WSC took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth with a 2-run homerun and a throwing error that allowed one run to score and make it a 7-4 ball game
• A double to left field by Connor Knecht brought home Wedwick after he hit a single to left field the previous at bat, making the score 7-5 in the top of the seventh
• Max Otto took the mound in the bottom of the seventh and immediately took control of the game, sending the Wildcats down in order for the first time in the second game of the afternoon
• Reece Ragatz became the second pinch hitter of the day to hit a home run in their lone plate appearance of the game, joining Tolk who hit one in the first game, as he hit a solo homerun to right field to cut the deficit to 7-6
• In his fourth appearance of the season, Cooper Tessendorf (0-1) suffered the loss on the mound as he pitched 1.1 innings of relief and struck out a pair of WSC batters
• Northern State scored their six runs off nine hits and committed three errors defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2
Reece Ragatz: 1-for-1, 1 homerun, 1 RBI, 1 run scored
Connor Knecht: 2-for-4, 1 double, 2 RBI
Karson Hesser: 2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 walk
Andrew Wedwick: 2-for-5, 2 runs scored
Max Otto: 2.0 innings pitched, 2 strikeouts
 
UP NEXT
This upcoming weekend's 3-game series against Winona State has officially been site reversed and will be played in Winona, Minnesota, on Sunday and Monday due to the most recent winter weather system to pass through Aberdeen. The games will be played at 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and at 12 p.m. on Monday afternoon.
 
With the colder than normal temperatures and snowy conditions this spring, fans are reminded to stay tuned to nsuwolves.com and the Wolves Athletics social media accounts for all spring schedule changes.