Tigers drop twin bill to Northwestern at home

MITCHELL, S.D. – After winning four of their last five games, the Dakota Wesleyan University baseball team fell in a doubleheader to Great Plains Athletic Conference foe Northwestern College by scores of 13-8 and 13-4 in both games on Thursday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.

 The opening game kicked off quickly after the Raiders connected on a three-run homerun in the top of the first frame to take an early 3-0 lead. However, in the bottom half of the inning, Luke LeMay (St. Paul, Minn.) connected on an RBI triple and Dalton Wilcoxen (Council Bluffs, Iowa) sailed a two-run homerun over the left-field fence to tie the game.

 The Raiders (10-16, 3-7 GPAC) answered one inning later with an RBI triple of their own followed by another homerun, this time a two-run shot to regain a 6-3 advantage. Although they didn't tie the game, the Tigers (9-12, 3-7 GPAC) cut into their deficit as Jared Jones (Edmond, Okla.) connected on a solo-shot homerun to make it a 6-4 game.

 After Ethan Davis (Billings, Mont.) retired the Northwestern lineup in order, Cole Hellie (Phoenix, Ariz.) tied the game with a two-run double to left field.

 Davis made quick work of the Raider lineup in the top of the fourth frame, while LeMay connected on an RBI single to give the Tigers their first lead of the game.

 After tying the game one inning later, Northwestern tacked on five runs in the top of the sixth frame to take a commanding lead. DWU was unable to overcome the late deficit as they dropped the opening game.

 Wilcoxen went 3-for-4 with three RBIs and a homerun, while LeMay finished 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in with a run scored. Davis started the game and pitched five innings as he struck out six batters.

 The second game began in the favor of DWU as LeMay brought a run home in the bottom of the first inning. One frame later, Seth Christiansen (Victor, Idaho) hit a solo-shot homerun to double the DWU lead.

 However, the Raiders scored 13 runs over the next five innings to take a 13-2 lead. Despite a Drew DeMers (Winner, S.D.) two-run homerun in the sixth frame, DWU fell in the nightcap.

 DeMers finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a homerun, while Christiansen went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a homerun. Patrick Starr (Overland Park, Kan.) pitched four innings and struck out two batters in the game.

 DWU and Northwestern square off for another doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow in Orange City, Iowa.