FREMONT, Neb. – Senior starting pitcher Dustin Steckler (Garretson, S.D.) gave it all he had against Northwestern College in a Great Plains Athletic Conference elimination game Friday at Moeller Field in Fremont, Neb.
It was a pitcher's duel for most of the contest, as Red Raider starter Fernando Gutierrez kept the Tigers off the board for the first four innings before DWU scored its first run in the bottom of the fifth and another in the bottom of the sixth.
Steckler held his own, surrendering a run in the top of the first inning and another in the seventh. The senior tossed eight innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out seven batters and walking four. The start was Steckler's third in less than a week.
The difference came in the ninth inning when Northwestern College tallied three runs, putting the game away for good as the Tigers mustered a hit, while leaving three runners on base.
Junior William Lutjen (Millers Place, N.Y.) took the loss on the mound, throwing an inning in relief, allowing two runs on one hit.
Catcher Tramane Moore (Los Banos, Calif.) went 1-for-4 with a double, while Lakin Neugebauer (Mitchell, S.D.) added a hit and a run in the loss.
The Tigers end their season at 25-27. DWU graduates 14 seniors. In four years the class compiled a record of 100-109.