Baseball Splits Pair Versus Illinois-Springfield

The Northwood University baseball team split a pair of games against Illinois-Springfield Saturday afternoon (March 9).  UIS earned a 2-1 win in the opener before the Timberwolves claimed a 7-6 comeback win in game two.

Northwood is now 3-1 to open the season.  The Prairie Stars are now 1-1.

Game one featured strong pitching, as the two teams combined for just three extra base hits in the game (all doubles).  UIS plated single runs in the third and the fifth innings to go up 2-0.  Northwood responded with a run in the sixth on an Andrew Fleming (Olivet, Mich. /Kellogg CC) RBI single.  The Timberwolves then got the tying run to second base in the top of the seventh inning with one out, but were unable to score.  Luke Bivens (Battle Creek, Mich./Lakeview) took the loss despite allowing one earned run in six innings of work.

It appeared Northwood was going to get swept in the doubleheader, falling behind 6-1 heading into the bottom of the third inning.  But the Timberwolves began their comeback in the third thanks to RBI's from Fleming and Anthony Dipaolo (Northville, Mich./Divine Child) to make the score 6-3.  The Timberwolves then tied the score 6-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Jake Oard (Beaverton, Mich.) plated a pair with an RBI single and then later scored on a double by Zach Zoellner (Traverse City, Mich./Central).  Northwood then earned the win in the seventh.  Travis Smith (Clare, Mich.) led the inning off with a double.  Pinch runner Jordan Turner (Farmington, Mich.) then scored when UIS made an error on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Beatty (Clare, Mich./Davenport).  Jordan Schwellenbach (Saginaw, Mich./Heritage) earned the win with solid work out of the bullpen.  He tossed three hitless innings for the Timberwolves, striking out four.

Northwood will take on Charleston (WV) Sunday morning (March 10) for a doubleheader.  First pitch is set for 9 a.m.