Baseball Splits Doubleheader At Hillsdale

OVERVIEW – Hillsdale College

GAME 1

SCORE: Northwood 7, Hillsdale 8

RECORDS: Northwood 16-7 (3-2 GLIAC), Hillsdale 13-15 (4-5 GLIAC)

LOCATION: Simpson Field, Hillsdale College

RECAP: Hillsdale outlasts Northwood in back and forth contest to earn the win in game one of the four game set.

GAME 1 HIGHLIGHTS

• The Timberwolves immediately grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning thanks to back to back doubles to begin the contest by Connor Foley and David Vinsky. Hillsdale's Will Kruse settled down on the mound retiring three of the next four batters to limit the damage to one run.
• The Chargers answered immediately, striking for two in the home half of the first and snatching a 2-1 advantage after one.
• Back came the Timberwolves in the top of the second, upping Hillsdale's answer with a three spot to take a 4-2 lead. Kyle Ziegler led off the inning with a bunt single. With one out and two on after a Travis Janes walk, Foley smashed his second double of the game scoring Ziegler. The next batter, David Vinsky tallied his second RBI of the game with a sac fly scoring Janes, and Ryan McClelland capped the scoring with an RBI single plating Foley.
• NU added one more in the third on an RBI double by Kyle Ziegler that scored Daniel Pulver who had also doubled in the inning. Hillsdale came back with three in the home half to even the score at five.
• Hillsdale's bats stayed hot into the bottom of the fourth as the Chargers followed up the big three run third inning with three more in the fourth to go ahead 8-5.
• The Timberwolves made it a one run game in the fifth by scoring two in the inning after Ryan McClelland led off with a double and Daniel Pulver singled. McClelland came home to score on a Hillsdale throwing error and Pulver would later score on a fielder's choice.
• Down by one run heading to the sixth, Hillsdale was able to preserve the win by holding Northwood scoreless in the sixth and seventh, resulting in an 8-7 final. 

GAME 1 STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors Northwood: 7/10/3 Hillsdale 8/9/1
• Runners Left on Base: Northwood: 5 Hillsdale: 5
• Winning Pitcher: Will Kruse (4-2) 5.1 IP, 10H, 7R, 5ER, 3BB, 5K
• Losing Pitcher: Ian Dimitie (2-2) 3.2 IP, 7H, 8R, 6ER, 2BB, 4K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Connor Foley (3-3, RBI)
• Kyle Ziegler (2-3. 2RBI)
• David Vinsky (1-3, 2RBI)

GAME 1 NOTES

• This is the first time this season Northwood has lost a game decided by one run. They were 4-0 in one-run games prior to today.
• The seven runs are the second highest total in a loss for Northwood on the season. (9 runs in a 13-9 loss at Carson-Newman)

GAME 2

SCORE: Northwood 15, Hillsdale 1

RECORDS: 17-7 (4-2 GLIAC) Hillsdale 13-16 (4-6 GLIAC)

LOCATION: Simpson Field, Hillsdale College

RECAP: Northwood's offense explodes as the Timberwolves bounce back in a big way to earn the split of the doubleheader.

GAME 2 HIGHLIGHTS

• Northwood wasted no time in gaining control of the contest thanks to a three-run bomb by Ryan McClelland in the top of the first putting NU up 3-0.
• Hillsdale responded with a run in the home half, but a four run top of the third for Northwood on an RBI double by Richie O'Neil and a three-run double by Connor Foley propelled the Timberwolves in front comfortably, 7-1.
• Northwood's lead continued to grow with one more in the fourth on a Javier Martinez sacrifice fly that scored Ryan McClelland, but the Timberwolves really poured it on with five in the sixth and two in the seventh.
• The sixth inning for Northwood began with a McClelland single followed by a Daniel Pulver two run big fly. Martinez and Nick Palmer then singled, and after a wild pitch, Martinez came home to score for the third run of the inning. Brian Dombrowski then drew a free pass, bringing Foley to the plate with two on. Foley continued his impressive day at the plate with a two run double scoring Palmer and Dombrowski and ballooning the lead to 12 at 13-1.
• The lead would continue to grow in the top of the seventh on an RBI double by Kyle Ziegler and a sacrifice fly by Austin Gonser, making it 15-1 in favor of Northwood.
• The Timberwolve's pitching staff and defense remained solid all game long as Northwood cruised to the 15-1 win to earn the split for the day.

GAME 2 STATS

• Runs/Hits/Errors Northwood: 15/19/0 Hillsdale 1/7/2
• Runners Left on Base: Northwood: 10 Hillsdale: 8
• Winning Pitcher: Matt Pearsall (2-2) 6 IP, 6 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 5K, 1 BB
• Losing Pitcher: Kolton Rominski (1-2) 5IP, 12H, 8R, 8ER, 1BB, 7K

TOP NU PERFORMERS

• Connor Foley (5-5, 2 2B, 5RBI)
• Ryan McClelland (3-5, HR, 3RBI)
• Daniel Pulver (4-6, HR, 2RBI, 3R)

GAME 2 NOTES

• The 15 runs are the most on the season for Northwood.
• The 15-1 final score is the largest margin of victory on the year for the Timberwolves.
• Connor Foley finishes the day 8-8 with three doubles and six RBI. Foley is now 16 for his last 22.

COACH JORDAN BISCHEL

"I was extremely pleased with how we bounced back in game two. Hillsdale is a young team that plays with tremendous energy. We will be challenged again tomorrow."

UP NEXT

• The Timberwolves continue the weekend series on the road at Hillsdale with a doubleheader tomorrow (April 2). First pitch is slated for 12:00 pm.