LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan cut a five-run deficit down to one and had the tying run at second base in the bottom of the 8^th inning, but Central College held off the late Prairie Wolves rally as the Dutch earned a 7-6 victory in IIAC baseball action on Tuesday afternoon (April 18) at NWU Field in Lincoln.  It was the first game of a three game series between the two teams, as they will meet again for a doubleheader in one week in Pella, Iowa.
 
The Dutch led 5-0 after scoring a run in the top of the 5^th inning, but that is when the NWU bats got going.  Spencer Scheer hit a 2-run HR over the left field fence in the bottom of the inning to make the score 5-2.
 
Right after the Prairie Wolves closed the gap, the Dutch responded immediately.  Kyle Crampton hit a 2-run HR to left field for Central in the top of the 6^th to put the Dutch back up by five runs.  Central followed the HR with a triple and a walk, but those two runners were stranded by relief pitcher Nate Teitler.
 
The biggest inning for the Prairie Wolves was the bottom of the 6^th inning as NWU plated four runs.  A errant throw on an infield grounder got things going in the right direction.  Matt Orozco was hit by a pitch putting two runners on for Tyler Winterstein.  He responded by blasting a 3-run HR to left field making the score 7-5.  The Prairie Wolves weren't done yet as Nick Bruno singled to right field, moved to second on a sacrifice then scored on a perfect bunt by Scheer down the first base line.
 
With the score 7-6, Cam Lulow entered the game and pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the Prairie Wolves before Jesse Maguire closed the game with a scoreless 9^th.
 
The best chance to tie the game for NWU came in the bottom of the 8^th inning.  With two outs, Owen Gubbels singled to left field.  That was followed up by a line drive single to left by David Morris.  The threat was ended when Scheer struck out with a full count.  NWU was unable to get a baserunner in the 9^th inning as the Dutch earned the victory.
 
NWU and Central combined to hit four home runs on the day, with the Dutch also hitting two triples.  Sam Condello took the loss for the Prairie Wolves pitching 5 2/3 innings allowing six earned runs on 11 hits.
 
The Prairie Wolves fall to 12-20 overall and 5-11 in IIAC play with eight games left on the year.  They will play the final home series of the year this weekend as they host IIAC leading University of Dubuque.