Game 1
Dakota Wesleyan
Northwestern (IA)
Game 2
Dakota Wesleyan
Northwestern (IA)
MITCHELL, S.D. – Despite a slow start in game one, the Dakota Wesleyan baseball team split with Northwestern College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference matchup Friday in Orange City, Iowa.
The Red Raiders took game one from the Tigers, 3-0 as Northwestern starter Fernando Gutierrez held DWU scoreless for seven innings. In game two, the Tigers offense exploded to take game two 14-2 in eight innings.
In the first game, Northwestern picked up its three runs in the bottom of the fourth as they held the Tigers off the scoreboard. Redshirt junior Tyler Waddle (Huron, S.D.), senior Austin Calhoon (Winner, S.D.) and senior Neil Nagle (Oslo, Minn.) picked up a hit for DWU.
Senior Dustin Steckler (Garretson, S.D.) took the loss on the mound, tossing six innings, allowing three runs on four hits and striking out three batters.
It was a different story in game two as the Tigers put up five runs in the first two innings and three more in the fourth and fifth innings. The largest inning came in the top of the eighth when DWU put up six to end the game an inning early.
Senior Dominic Sebastiani (San Francisco, Calif.) propelled the Tigers at the plate going 3-for-5 with five RBIs and scoring three runs. Sebastiani also hit a two-run home run, his first of the season, in the top of the fourth. Sebastiani wasn't the only senior with a three-hit performance. Jonah Johnson (Kerkhoven, Minn.) went 3-for-5 at the place with an RBI and a run.
Calhoon added two hits and two RBIs, while junior Tramane Moore (Los Banos, Calif.) hit his first career home run as he continues to get comfortable as the Tiger's starting catcher. Waddle, Hartman Katz (Huron, S.D.) and Lakin Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) added two hits in the win.
Starting pitcher Michal Kinzler (East Grand Forks, Minn.) picked up the win, throwing six innings, giving up two runs on four hits and striking out four batters.
The Tigers (17-14) return home to face Midland University for a GPAC showdown at 1 p.m. Sunday at Cadwell Park in Mitchell.