Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 Alton, Ill. – The Northern State baseball team carried the momentum from yesterday's game two win into the opening game of today's doubleheader, where they scored a 3-1 win over McKendree. However, the Bearcat's offense came to life in the second game and downed the Wolves 8-1 to split the weekend series. Complete statistics for all four games this weekend will be available by later this evening.
 
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score Game 1: NSU 3, MU 1
Final Score Game 2: NSU 1, MU 8
Records: NSU 5-6, MU 6-8
 
HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After Northern State left the bases loaded in the top of the first inning, McKendree was the first team to put a run on the board as they plated one run on an RBI single up the middle in the bottom half of the inning
• The Wolves were quick to respond and get a run back in the top of the second as Drew Benson and Jordan DeMarce strung together back-to-back singles before Austin Portner knocked a double to right field to score Benson and tie the game at 1-1
• After getting walked to start the inning Jack Paulson moved into scoring position by stealing second base, two at-bats later a slow grounder to shortstop by Gus Radel gave Paulson enough time to score from third and give the Wolves the 2-1 lead
• Niko Pezonella hit a double to left center to give Radel a runner in scoring position in the top of the fifth, Radel would hit a single up the middle to allow Pezonella to round third and score to push the lead to 3-1
• Max Otto entered in relief in the seventh inning for Northern and shut down a late Bearcat rally by striking out the final batter and leaving two McKendree base runners stranded on first and second
• With eight strikeouts in the game Zach Carolin (1-0) picked up the win on the mound for the Wolves in his second start of the season, while Max Otto recorded his first save of the season in his third appearance of the year
• Northern State scored their three runs off 11 hits

 HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• After leaving a pair of runners stranded on the bases in each of the first two innings, Northern State was finally able to strike first in the top of the third inning
• Karson Hesser was able to reach base on a fielder's choice and Niko Pezonella brought Hesser home on a double to right center to give the Wolves a 1-0 lead
• Max Otto limited McKendree to only one hit through the first three innings of play, however the Bearcat offense came to life in the bottom of fourth inning as a they scored a pair of runs off a double and sacrifice fly
• A 2-RBI double down the right field line extended the McKendree lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the fifth, and a 2-RBI triple to right center pushed the lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning
• Christian Mundt entered in relief for in the bottom of the sixth and ended the inning with a strikeout to leave a Bearcat runner stranded on third
• Mitchell Tolk entered in the bottom of seventh inning and struck out the side for the Wolves
• Jonah Schmidt made his Northern debut on the mound in the bottom of the eighth inning, but an RBI double and a passed ball would extend the McKendree lead to 8-1
• Otto (0-2) suffered the loss on the mound for the Wolves in his third start of the season
• Northern State scored their one run off seven hits

UP NEXT
Northern State will have a little over a week until they are back in action as they conclude non-conference action at Dakota Wesleyan on March 14. The Wolves and Tigers are set for a doubleheader in Mitchell, South Dakota.