Costly errors and clutch pitching propels Tigers over Northwestern

ORANGE CITY, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team jumped back into Great Plains Athletic Conference action, sweeping Northwestern College 2-1 and 3-2 for its sixth-straight conference victories on Thursday in Orange City, Iowa.

 A passed ball in the second and a balk in the top of the fourth inning allowed the Tigers to plate two runs that proved to be enough for DWU in Game One. Senior Zach Uttecht (Piece, Neb.) continued his dominant performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs.

 Freshman Dominique Boerger (Milbank, S.D.) was just as impressive, tossing five and one-third innings, allowing one earned run off six hits, while striking out four. Senior William Lutjen (Miller Place, N.Y.) tallied his sixth save of the year.

 Down 2-1 in the nightcap, a run in the sixth and seventh innings sealed the victory for the Tigers as senior Patrick Whetham (Garretson, S.D.) went the distance on the mound. Whetham tossed seven complete innings, allowing two earned runs off four hits, while striking out seven. Hartman Katz (Huron, S.D.) went 2-for-3, while Tyler Waddle (Huron, S.D.) and Uttecht each tallied a double.

 The Tigers (13-15, 8-4 GPAC) move into first place in the conference standings and will welcome Northwestern for a GPAC doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.