Joplin, Missouri — The Northwestern College baseball team totaled 16 hits in earning a 12-8 victory against Park (Mo.) in the second game played today in Joplin, Mo. The Raiders dropped game one to William Penn, 3-0, and are 3-3 on the young 2021 season.
Four different Raiders had multi-hit games the nightcap, led by Colton Harold and Jacob Kindhart who both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Sutton Derr went 2-for-4 and scored three runs at the top of the line-up and Kip Cullinan drove in a season-high three runs, going 2-for-4 at the plate. Eli Rash also contributed two hits for head coach Brian Wede’s club.
Northwestern sent eight batters to the plate in a four-run, five-hit, first inning. The first five hitters all reached base; Derr led off with a walk while Harold, Cullinan, Noa Vogel and Josh Fakkema all followed with singles.
The Raiders scored four more runs in the fourth, taking advantage of four walks, a hit batsman and two hits, for an 8-1 lead. Coach Wede’s squad put the Pirates away with three runs in the fifth, getting RBI doubles from Jaden Snyder and Cullinan.
Luke Hughes (1-1) picked up the win for the Raiders as the senior allowed seven hits and three earned runs in four innings. Evan Olesen pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, striking out three.
Park’s Christian Suk (0-10 took the loss, giving up nine hits and six earned runs in three innings, one of four Park pitchers to throw. Sam Derks led the Pirates at the plate with three hits, including two home runs.
Northwestern was no-hit by William Penn starter Chase Stratton (1-1) in its 3-0 game loss in the first game played this morning. Stratton struck out 12 and allowed just one base runner, off an error on a ball hit by Derr to lead off the bottom of the fourth inning.
Dylan Kirkeby (0-1) pitched well for the Raiders despite picking up the loss, giving up nine hits and no earned runs in six innings. Ethan Buckner pitched a scoreless seventh inning.
The Pirates scored all three runs in the top of the first inning, doing so on four hits and two Northwestern errors. Jameson Hart and Dominic Bravo both drove in runs with RBI singles.
Northwestern will return to the diamond on Monday, March 1 when they play Oklahoma City for a doubleheader beginning at 2pm.
