NSU Baseball Splits Four at McKendree University

Posted on March 6, 2023 by - Sports

ALTON, IL (NSUWolves.com) –
SATURDAY

NSU

McKendree University 7-3

 

NSU 6-5

McKendree University

 

After falling by a score of 7-3 in the opening game of the series, Northern State bounced back in game two to score a 6-5 win over McKendree on Saturday afternoon. Complete statistics for both games will be available by tomorrow morning.

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

  • McKendree was the first team to put a run up on the scoreboard as they scored three in the bottom of the second inning
  • Northern State got a run back in the top of the third inning as Gus Radel reached first on a fielder’s choice and scored Austin Portner from third base
  • The Bearcats extended the lead to five runs in the bottom of the third as they scored three more runs off a pair of doubles
  • The Wolves did their best to chip away at the deficit by putting up two runs in the top of the fifth inning as Kai Brisk hit a double down the right field line to score Jack Paulson and a sacrifice fly by Karson Hesser allowed Niko Pezonella to tag up from third to score and cut the lead to 6-3
  • A solo homerun by McKendree capped the scoring in game one as the Bearcats would earn a 7-3 win
  • Northern State scored their three runs off eight hits and did not commit an error defensively
  • Brian Baker (1-2) suffered the loss in his third start of the season, pitching 2.1 innings on the mound

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1
Niko Pezonella: 3-for-4, 2 doubles, 1 run scored
Kai Brisk: 1-for-2, 1 double, 1 walk, 1 RBI
Blake Ask: 3.2 innings pitched, 2 strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

  • Tyler Kimm drew a hit-by-pitch in the top of the first inning with the bases loaded, allowing Austin Portner to cross home plate and give Northern State the early 1-0 lead
  • The Wolves added another run in the top of the third as Kai Brisk doubled down the left field line to score Jack Paulson and push the lead to 2-0 before McKendree got one run back in the bottom half of the inning to make it 2-1
  • In the top of the fourth inning a triple by Austin Portner scored Mateo Tahsini, and an RBI single to shortstop by Jack Paulson the next at-bat scored Portner to extend the lead to 4-1
  • The Bearcats kept chipping away at the lead late as a pair of runs in the bottom of the eight cut the lead to one run at 4-3
  • Northern tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the top of the ninth as Karson Hesser reached base safely on a fielder’s choice to score Jackson Meyer and an RBI single by Drew Benson scored Portner to extend the lead to 6-3
  • A double down the left field line would score two for McKendree and make it a 6-5 game with the game tying run on third base, however Northern would end the game the next at-bat as the Bearcat runner was caught stealing at home plate
  • Northern State scored their six runs off six hits and committed three errors defensively
  • Michael Chevalier (2-0) earned the win on the mound in his third start of the season, pitching 7.0 innings while striking out nine Bearcat batters

 

SUNDAY

NSU 3-1

McKendree University

 

NSU

McKendree University 8-1

 

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

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