Game 2
Graceland University
Game 1
Graceland University
LAMONI, Iowa – The Dakota Wesleyan baseball team completed a four-game sweep over Graceland University on Sunday afternoon, picking up two more wins, each by one run at Chase Stadium in Lamoni, Iowa.
The Tigers needed a rally in both games, as DWU won game one 3-2. In game two, the Tigers took a 7-0 lead early before a furious rally by the Yellowjackets but DWU down 9-7. With the game tied at 10 going into the seventh, the Tigers found the winning run and held on for the 11-10 victory. The four-game sweep pushes DWU to 4-7 on the season.
In game one, Graceland drew first blood, picking up a run in the bottom of the first, but DWU answered with a run in the third and two more in the fifth and the Tigers held on for the win.
Starting pitcher Patrick Whetham (Garretson, S.D.) picked up his first win of the year, while keeping the Graceland bats in check for much of the game. Whetham (1-2) tossed five innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out four. Steven Somerville (Ajax, Toronto, Canada) tossed an inning out of the pen, and Will Lutjen (Miller Place, N.Y.) threw the last inning, securing his second save in as many days.
Senior Neil Nagle (Oslo, Minn.) came into pinch-hit in the top of the fifth and drove in two runs. The other run was scored in the top of the third when Nolan Luhmann (Jackson, Minn.) scored on an errant throw.
DWU jumped out early in game two, scoring seven runs in the first three innings. Graceland didn't go down without a fight, scoring a combined nine runs in the bottom of the third and fourth inning. The Tigers rallied back, adding two runs in the fifth a run in the sixth and seventh innings, while hanging on for the 11-10 victory.
The winning run was scored by junior Michael Johnson (Huron, S.D.) in the seventh inning on an error after pinch running for Nagle.
Junior outfielder Lakin Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) went 3-for-3, picking up two RBIs, a walk and a run. Senior Jonah Johnson (Kerkhoven, Minn.) added two hits, two runs, two walks and three RBIs. Starting catcher Tramane Moore (Los Banos, Calif.) and Nagle added two hits apiece, while Moore was walked three times and Nagle added two RBIs.
Starting pitcher Daniel Galvez (San Francisco, Calif.) threw two and a third innings, allowing four runs on two hits, while walking three and striking out three. The rest of the game was left up to the Tiger bullpen, as three pitchers combined for three innings, giving up five runs on five hits. Lutjen recorded his first win of the season, tossing two scoreless innings, while striking out three.
The Tigers (4-7) host Grace University (Neb.) for a midweek doubleheader in the team's home opener at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.