Aberdeen, SD (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State baseball team bounced back after a 9-2 loss to Upper Iowa in game one, with a thrilling 8-7 walk-off win in game two to highlight senior day. The Peacocks entered the weekend needing a sweep and help from around the league to keep their postseason hopes alive, however the Wolves put an end to those dreams as Niko Pezonella put a single down the right field line and an errant throw to the cutoff man for UIU allowed Jack Paulson to cross home plate to secure the doubleheader split.

THE QUICK DETAILS

Final Score Game 1: NSU 2, UIU 9

Final Score Game 2: NSU 8, UIU 7

Records: NSU 11-31 (6-25 NSIC), UIU 19-27 (15-19 NSIC)

Attendance: 103

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 1

• Both Northern State and Upper Iowa left a pair of baserunners stranded during the first two innings before the Peacocks put the first run on the scoreboard with unearned run off an NSU error
• A 3-run homerun down the right field line for UIU pushed their lead to 4-0 in the top of the fourth inning
• A second consecutive 3-run inning for Upper Iowa extended the lead to 7-0 on a solo homerun to right field and a 2-RBI double to center field
• The Peacocks plated one run in the sixth on a wild pitch, and would score their final run of the game in the top of the seventh on a solo homerun to left field
• The Wolves were able to avoid the shutout with a pair of runs in the bottom of the ninth with Niko Pezonella scoring on a sacrifice fly by Reece Ragatz to left field, and a RBI double to center field by Mateo Tahsini brought home Kai Brisk to make it a 9-2 game
• Michael Chevlier (4-5) suffered the loss on the mound in his 12^th start of the season, pitching 5.0 innings with a pair of strikeouts; Mitchell Tolk and Taite Hensley each pitched 1.0 inning of relief with Tolk striking out three UIU batters in the top of the sixth
• Northern State scored their two runs off five hits and committed one error defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 1

Kai Brisk: 2-for-3, 1 double, 1 run scored

Mateo Tahsini: 1-for-3, 1 double, 1 RBI

Mitchell Tolk: 1.0 inning pitched, 3 strikeouts

HOW IT HAPPENED – GAME 2

• Upper Iowa got on the scoreboard first with a pair of runs in the top of first with a fielder’s choice and an RBI single to put UIU up 2-0
• Northern State evened the game at two runs a piece in the bottom of the second on an RBI single to right field by Reece Ragatz to score Niko Pezonella, two at-bats later a sacrifice fly ball by Connor Knecht gave Kai Brisk a chance to tag up from third base and score
• The Wolves took the lead for the first time in the bottom of the third with an RBI double to right center by Brisk that scored Karson Hesser, the next at-bat Ragatz sent a homerun to right field that scored Brisk and gave NSU a 5-2 advantage
• The Peacocks added a run in the top of the fifth on a sacrifice fly to right field that cut the Northern lead to 5-3
• Upper Iowa would gain momentum and regain the lead in the top of the sixth with a hit by pitch while the bases loaded scoring one run and a bases clearing triple put the Peacocks in front 7-5
• Northern would continue to push back in the bottom half of the inning as an RBI single to center field by Knecht brought home Ragatz, and an RBI bunt single by Jordan DeMarce scored Mateo Tahsini to even the game at seven after six innings
• The teams would then play two scoreless innings before the Wolves walked it off in the bottom of the ninth, Jack Paulson was able to reach base on a fielding error as Peacock right fielder collided with the second basemen making the catch, jarring the ball loose from the glove
• The next at-bat Niko Pezonella hit a single down the right field line past the out-stretched glove of the first basemen, however a throwing error by the right fielder sent the ball over the glove of the cutoff man and allowed Paulson to score the game winning run
• Brian Baker pitched 5.1 innings in his eighth start of the season, throwing six strikeouts in the contest; Max Otto (1-8) took the mound in relief in the top of the seventh inning to pitch 2.2 innings and throw a pair of strikeouts for his first win of the season
• Northern State scored their eight runs off 11 hits and committed two errors defensively

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS – GAME 2

Kai Brisk: 2-for-2, 1 double, 2 walks, 1 RBI, 2 runs scored

Reece Ragatz: 2-for-4, 1 homerun, 3 RBI, 2 runs scored

Brian Baker: 5.1 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts

Max Otto: 2.2 innings pitched, 2 strikeouts, win (1-8)

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