ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Northwestern College baseball team (15-17, 7-9 GPAC) erupted for nine extra base hits as they swept the Warriors of Midland University (20-12, 7-9 GPAC) to split the four-game series on the season.
Jaden Snyder went deep twice on the day, as Northwestern belted six home runs to move to 6-4 at the Baseball Diamond on the season.
GAME 1: Northwestern 7, Midland 2
Pitching Decisions
Win: Dylan Kirkeby (2-2)
Loss: Hilton Mehrmann (1-4)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
Game one was highlighted by five long balls between the two games, as the Raiders scored all seven runs on four home runs, all hit by different Raiders.
Mo Watson (So., Ankeny, Iowa/Ankeny) started the home run barrage with a solo shot in the second inning to lead-off the frame, giving Northwestern the 1-0 lead.
GAME 2: Northwestern 6, Midland 5 (F/10)
Pitching Decisions
Win: Colton Schuchart (2-1)
Loss: Keegan Adams (1-1)
Save: N/A
How It Happened
Northwestern struck first in Game 2 thanks to Watson’s first double of the day, that scored Stanford to give Northwestern the early 1-0 lead.
Midland took the lead in the third as Trey Rodriguez went deep to drive in two runs and take the 2-1 lead. Northwestern would draw even in the bottom half with a solo shot from Olesen (2-2).
Another solo home run, this time from Peyton Garbers, would give Midland the lead back at 3-2 in the fourth. The Warriors would tack on one more – taking their largest lead of the day – with an RBI single, making it 4-2 through four and a half.
Again, Northwestern would respond with runs of their own in the bottom half of the fifth. Watson’s second double of the day plated Stanford again. Later, a Porepp single would score Watson as the Raiders tied it 4-4.
A solo homer from Snyder – his second of the day – would give the Raiders a 5-4 lead in the bottom of the sixth. Midland would score one in the top half of the seventh and the game would head to extra innings tied at 5-5.
Both teams had opportunity to score multiple times, but it would be Northwestern finally doing so in the tenth. Eli Rash (So., Lake Lotawana, Mo./Summit Christian Academy) would step up to the plate with the bases with one retired. After working a full count, Rash would prove to be the hero taking ball four away to drive in the game-winning run as Northwestern won their first extra inning game at home 6-5.
