Baseball Ends Season With Pair of Losses To Lake Erie

MIDLAND, MICH. – The Northwood University baseball team saw its 2016 season come to and end with a pair of losses to Lake Erie Saturday afternoon (May 7). The Storm took game one 10-5 before winning game two 18-11.

The Timberwolves entered the day with a chance to reach the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament (GLIAC), but were eliminated from contention prior to the conclusion of their first game today when Wayne State defeated Malone 6-5.

Northwood finishes the season 25-43 overall, 14-16 in the GLIAC. Lake Erie concludes the year 18-29 overall, 14-18 in the GLIAC.

The Timberwolves took the early lead in game one, plating a pair of runs in the second to go up 2-0. Lake Erie responded with two in the third and one in the fourth to go up 3-2, only to see NU come right back with two runs of their own to put the Timberwolves up 4-3. After both teams scored in the fifth inning (Lake Erie – two runs, Northwood – one run), the score was tied 5-5 heading to the sixth of the seven inning game. That is when the Storm took control of the contest, scoring two in the sixth and three in the seventh while holding NU off the board

Lake Erie out-hit Northwood 14-8 in the game. Both teams drew three walks and left numerous runners on base in the game (LE – 10, NU – 8).

Miles Hardy (Lake Orion, Mich.) had two hits and two RBIs to lead the way for Northwood. Grant Bridgewater (Bay City, Mich./Western) added two hits, two runs and an RBI. Cody Kuzniczci (Madeira, Ohio) added a pair of hits for the Timberwolves.

Northwood took an early 1-0 lead in game two before a wild second inning that lasted over 90 minutes. Lake Erie plated seven runs in the top of the inning, which featured seven hits, three doubles and a triple. Northwood then plated eight runs in the bottom of the inning on six hits, which was highlighted by a Nick Barrientos (Zionsville, Ind./Danville Area CC) three-run homer. Northwood then scored two more runs in the third inning to make the score 11-7 in favor of the Timberwolves. But that proved to be the last time NU would score, while the Storm plated two in the fourth, four in the seventh and five more in the eighth to earn the win.

The three hour, 52 minute contest featured 32 hits (19 – Lake Erie, 13 – Northwood), 20 walks (12 – Northwood, 8 – Lake Erie). Despite plating 11 runs in the game, Northwood missed out on numerous chances to score, leaving 16 runners on base. Despite all of the offense in the game, neither team committed an error in the game.

Barrientos went 2-5 with a home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Dustin Lee (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) went 2-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Daniel Pulver (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.), Nick Palmer (Warren, Mich./Cousino) and Brooks Ullery (Mishawaka, Ind./Penn) all added two hits. Hardy finished the game 1-2 with two runs scored, two RBIs and four walks.