Webster, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State baseball team was three outs away from securing a split on Sunday afternoon at Bob Wiley Field in Webster, however untimely errors proved to be costly as the Wolves dropped games by scores of 9-5 and 8-2. Northern battled Southwest Minnesota State close throughout the doubleheader, leading 3-0 halfway through the first game before a 7-run fifth inning gave the Mustangs the advantage. NSU also led 2-1 entering the ninth inning of game two, however SMSU once again scored seven runs to take control of the contest.

THE QUICK DETAILS

Final Score Game 1: NSU 5, SMSU 9

Final Score Game 2: NSU 2, SMSU 8

Records: NSU 10-27 (5-21 NSIC), SMSU 24-12 (16-10 NSIC)

Attendance: 51

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• After getting out of a bases loaded situation in the top of the first inning, Brian Baker settled in during the top of the second as he struck out the side
• Austin Portner put Northern State on the board first with an RBI single down the right field line to score Jackson Meyer, giving NSU a 1-0 advantage after the bottom of the third inning
• Baker continued his strong outing with a 3-up, 3-down top of the fourth with another pair of strikeouts
• The Wolves extended their lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fourth as Kai Brisk hit an RBI single up the middle to score Jack Paulson, and Connor Knecht hit an RBI single to right center to score Brisk
• Southwest Minnesota State seized control of the game in the top of the fifth with a 7-run inning off seven hits, the Mustangs also extended the lead to 9-3 with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth
• NSU capped the scoring in game one with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth as Karson Hesser hit a 2-RBI single to center field that brought home Meyer and Mitchell Tolk to cut the deficit to 9-5
• Baker (1-5) suffered the loss on the mound in his seventh start of the season, pitching 4.0 innings and striking out a season-high seven batters
• Northern State scored their five runs off 11 hits and committed one error defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1

Jackson Meyer: 2-for-3, 2 runs scored

Mitchell Tolk: 2-for-3, 1 run scored

Brian Baker: 4.0 innings pitched, 7 strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Michael Chevalier was in control early on in his 11^th start of the season, as Northern State sent Southwest Minnesota State 3-up, 3-down in the top of the first inning
• The Wolves took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning as Jackson Meyer hit an RBI single through the left side to score Niko Pezonella followed by Jordan DeMarce hitting an RBI sacrifice fly to center field to score Mitchell Tolk
• Chevalier would send the Mustangs 3-up, 3-down once again in the top of the first inning, and did not allow an SMSU hit until the fourth frame
• Northern and Southwest remained scoreless from the third inning through the seventh inning until SMSU broke through with a run in the top of the eighth inning to cut the NSU lead to one run
• Northern State was three outs away from securing the doubleheader split however three untimely errors provided seven runs for Southwest Minnesota State to earn an 8-2 win
• Jake Helleloid (1-1) suffered the loss on the mound in his 13^th relief appearance of the season, pitching 1.1 innings in the contest and striking out one batter
• Northern State scored their two runs off eight hits and committed five errors defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2

Kai Brisk: 3-for-4

Niko Pezonella: 1-for-3, 2 walks, 1 run scored

Michael Chevalier: 6.2 innings pitched, 3 hits allowed, 0 runs allowed, 2 strikeouts

UP NEXT

Northern State and Southwest Minnesota State will meet one final time at Bob Wiley Field in Webster, South Dakota, tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m. for the series finale between the Wolves and Mustangs.