Baseball Sweeps Doubleheader Versus Trinity International

AUBURNDALE, FLA. – The Northwood University baseball team improved to 4-1 on season with a doubleheader sweep over Trinity International Saturday afternoon (March 7). Northwood earned wins by the scores of 23-1 and 10-5.

Trinity falls to 0-11 with the losses.

Northwood took full advantage of wild Trojan pitchers at the start of game one, scoring five in the first and nine in the second despite having just four hits total (two in the first, two in the second). The Timberwolves took advantage of eight walks and five hit by pitches from Trinity International pitchers. NU added four in the fifth and five more in the sixth to clinch the win. Northwood finished the game with 14 hits to three for the Trojans. Ben Balgaard (Fenton, Mich./Howell) led Northwood with five RBIs, while four other players each drove in two runs – Nick Barrientos (Zionsville, Ind. /Danville Area CC), Eric Cotton (Troy, Mich./Jackson CC), Grant Bridgewater (Bay City, Mich./Western) and Justin Michalski (Macomb, Mich./Henry Ford II). Barrientos, Cotton, Justin Zyvon (Sterling Heights, Mich./Macomb CC), Travis Smith (Clare, Mich.) and Nate Boschma (Hudsonville, Mich.) all scored three runs as well. Sean Cunningham (Ada, Mich./Forest Hills Northern) picked up the win on the mound, allowing one unearned run on two hits while striking out five in five innings of work.

Game two was tied 1-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning when the Timberwolves took control. NU score five runs on five hits and took advantage of a pair of Trinity errors. Northwood then scored one in the fifth and three more in the sixth to put the game away. Both teams finished the contest with 11 hits and three errors, but Northwood drew four more walks (5-1) in the contest. Daniel Pulver (Mt. Pleasant, Mich.) went 2-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored, while Tanner McCarn (Olivet, Mich./Kellogg CC) added three RBIs. Ian Dimitrie (Madison Heights, Mich./Lamphere) picked up the win for Northwood, allowing two runs on six hits in four innings of work.

Northwood will take on UMSL fir a single game at 12:30 p.m. Sunday (March 8).