Box Score - Game 1
Box Score - Game 2
ST. PAUL (Apr. 29, 2008) – The long road continued for the Northwestern College baseball team on Tuesday as the Eagles split a doubleheader with Martin Luther College. NWC took the first game 5-1 before losing a 2-1 battle in Game 2.
Lee Nelson (Evansville, Minn./Brandon-Evansville) was Northwestern’s go-to guy in the first game as the senior belted two home runs and a double, accounting for three of the team’s five RBI. After hitting a leadoff double in the bottom of the second inning, Nelson scored two batters later on David Kleiner’s (Lakeville, Minn./Bethany Academy) single up the middle.
In the fourth inning, Nelson’s first home run of the day went over the center field fence to give NWC a 2-0 lead. Bomb No. 2 came in the sixth inning, as the Nelson’s shot scored Dan Halstensgard (St. Anthony, Minn./St. Anthony) en route to the Eagles winning 5-1.
Kleiner also finished 3-for-3 in the first game, tallying an RBI and a run.
Jeff Amann (Beach Park, Ill./Zion-Benton) got the start on the mound, pitching all seven innings while giving up one run on nine hit. Amann struck out five to record his third win of the season.
Game 2 was a different story, as Northwestern struggled to find hits, much less runs. The Eagles only strike would come in the third inning, as Nelson tallied another RBI on the day, reaching on a fielder’s choice. Martin Luther countered with a two-run fourth inning, and NWC couldn’t rebound in their remaining at-bats as the Knights held on to a 2-1 win.
Zach Holsman (Hill City, Minn./Hill City) hurled Game 2 for Northwestern, striking out eight while yielding the two earned runs.
Northwestern (8-19, 7-6 UMAC) is clinging to the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference’s third spot, where they are currently tied with Martin Luther. Next Tuesday’s nine-inning affair with the Knights could prove to be vital for both teams as the conference tournament will loom in the weekend to follow.
The Eagles will hardly get a break before hosting North Central University for a Wednesday afternoon doubleheader, when the first pitch is scheduled to be thrown at 3 p.m.