Mitchell, South Dakota — The Northwestern College baseball team erupted for 26 runs in earning a doubleheader sweep against Dakota Wesleyan played tonight at Cadwell Park in Mitchell, S.D., 13-8 game one and 13-4 in game two.
Northwestern improves to 3-7 in the conference, 10-16 overall; the host Tigers drop to 3-7 in the GPAC, 9-12 overall.
Game 1: 13-8 win
Northwestern accounted for a season-best 17 hits and matched its season high with four home runs in earning a 13-8 win in game one. The Raiders pushed at least one run across in five of the seven innings and plated multiple runs in three innings.
Five Northwestern hitters collected at least two hits:
Noa Vogel: 3-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 4 runs (season high hits)
Colton Harold: 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 2 runs
Sam Stanford: 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI, 2 runs (career high hits, RBI)
Kip Cullinan: 3-for-5, 2 runs
Evan Olesen: 2-for-4, RBI, run
Down by one (7-6), Head Coach Brian Wede’s squad went ahead for good with a five-run sixth inning. Noa Vogel led off with a walk and scored on Colton Harold’s second home run of the game, driving a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall. Sam Stanford hit a one-out double and later scored after singles by Kip Cullinan and Evan Olesen. The Raiders scored the final two runs off DWU errors.
Wede used three pitchers in game one; Brady Roberts earned his third win of the season by pitching the final six innings. The sophomore matched his season-high with nine strikeouts and walked two while giving up seven hits and four earned runs.
Game Two: 13-4
Northwestern totaled 14 hits, 10 singles and four doubles, in its 13-4 game-two win. Harold was the catalyst once again for coach Wede’s offense, going a perfect 4-for-4 with three runs scored and four RBI. Mason Porepp went 2-for-3 with a pair of RBI and Cullinan turned in his second consecutive multi-hit game and reached base all four times, going 2-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.
A four-run, third inning gave Northwestern the lead for good; Jaden Snyder led off with a single and came around to score on a single by Harold. Porepp added an RBI single and the final two runs came in on DWU errors.
Northwestern scored at least two runs in each of the final five innings.
Brett Shelton and Ryan Reynolds combined for the four-hitter; Shelton (W: 3-3) gave up four hits and three runs over six innings while striking out nine.
