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Tucson, A.Z. – The Northern State University baseball team defeated Hamline University 13-3 to wrap up their Arizona trip. The Wolves jumped out to an early lead and capitalized on crucial hitting opportunities in the seventh inning to secure the victory. NSU racked up 13 runs on 17 hits, including five extra-base hits and five stolen bases on the day.
THE QUICK DETAILS
Final Score: NSU 13, HU 3
Records: NSU 4-12 , HU 4-9
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After three scoreless innings, Northern State was the first to strike with Nick Friedges' double to right center that scored Nicholas Ochoa, taking the lead
- Brennan Phillips followed with a double that scored Mateo Tahsini and Michael Benevides in the fourth
- In the fifth inning, Friedges drove the ball to center field for a single that scored Jordan Hull, followed by a single from Benevides that scored Friedges to lead by five
- After two scoreless innings, Hamline University recorded three runs to trail by two
- The Wolves responded in the bottom of the seventh with Casey Vining's single down the left field line that scored Friedges and Ochoa
- Phillips kept it rolling with a double to left field that scored Vining, followed by Dillon Castellanos' single to right center that scored Phillips, extending the lead to six runs
- Hull found a hole in left center for a triple that scored Castellanos, while Jack Weidner followed up with a double down the right field line that scored Hull, giving the Wolves an eight-run lead
- In the bottom of the eighth, AJ Mendez was hit by a pitch, bringing in Friedges
- Castellanos sealed the game with a single to left field that scored Benevides, invoking the mercy rule against the Pipers
- The Wolves tallied 13 runs on 17 hits with one error
- Braxton Kusler recorded the win, pitching 5.0 innings, allowing no runs, and tallying 10 strikeouts against 19 batters faced
NORTHERN STATISTICAL STANDOUTS
- Nick Friedges: 4-for-5, 3 runs, 2 RBIs, 3 stolen bases, 1 double
- Brennan Phillips: 3-for-5, 3 RBIs, 2 doubles, 1 runs, 1 walk
- Dillon Castellanos: 2-for-4, 2 RBIs, 1 run, 1 walk, 1 stolen base
- Jordan Hull: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base
- Nicholas Ochoa: 2-for-4, 2 runs, 1 walk
- Braxton Kusler: win, 5.0 IP, 10 strikeouts
UP NEXT
Northern State returns to NSIC play next weekend to take on Concordia-St. Paul in a four-game series. First pitches are set for 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 21, 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, and 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 23, in St. Paul, MN, against the Golden Bears.
