PELLA, Iowa – Three straight bunt singles and a big two-run double by
Matt Orozco in the top of the 11
th inning gave Nebraska Wesleyan a 6-4 win over Central College in game two of a IIAC baseball doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon in Pella, Iowa. The Dutch won the first game of the day, 8-6 to earn the overall series win two games to one.
With the game tied at 3-3 after the Prairie Wolves scored in the 7
th, neither team would dent the scoreboard in the next two innings to send the game to extra innings. Both teams were held scoreless in the first extra inning sending it to the 11
th.
Spencer Scheer led off the 11
th with a perfect bunt towards first base to reach on the single.
Justin Corfield attempted to move Scheer over with a bunt, but he also sent a good bunt to first base and used his speed to reach safely.
Justus Stocks also showed his quickness with a bunt in front of home plate that forced the first baseman to field the ball and he also reached safely to load the bases with no outs.
Aaron Ochsner then grounded out to second base to drive the go-ahead run.
Pinch hitter
Matt Orozco then entered the game and doubled to drive in Corfield and Stocks with the biggest hit of the day.
That was all the lead the Prairie Wolves would need as
Jesse Maguire pitched the final four innings to earn the win. Maguire allowed one run in the 11
th, but ended the game with a strikeout, his fourth of the game to pick up his fourth win of the season.
The entire NWU bullpen was very effective throwing eight innings allowing just one run on three hits.
Nate Teitler pitched three scoreless innings allowing just a run, then
Nick Bruno pitched a scoreless seventh inning before giving way to Maguire to finish it.
NWU recorded 11 hits in the game, three more than the Dutch. The Prairie Wolves trailed 2-0 after three innings before tying it up in the 4
th inning.
Salvador Anguiano hit an RBI single, then
Owen Gubbels got a sacrifice fly on a foul out to tie the game. Central retook the lead in the bottom of the inning.
The Prairie Wolves took advantage of a Dutch error as Corfield scored in the 7
th inning to tie the game.
Kyle Hunter led the NWU offense going 3-5, with Corfield finishing 2-5 getting the start at second base. The only extra base hit was the big 2-run double from Orozco.
Nebraska Wesleyan nearly made a big comeback in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Prairie Wolves trailed by three runs headed to the 9
th inning but scored one and had runners on 2
nd and 3
rd with one out, but couldn't get the tying run home.
The two teams combined for 17 hits, 14 runs and nine errors in the opening game. NWU led 2-1 after three innings before the Dutch scored three runs in the 3
rd to take the lead. NWU cut the lead to one run in the 5
th then took the lead at 5-4 in the 7
th inning. The lead wouldn't last as Central plated three runs in the bottom of the inning and another in the 8
th for the three run advantage.
David Morris had a big day at the plate for the Prairie Wolves going 3-4 with three RBI and a double.
Tyler Winterstein was the other NWU play with multiple hits going 2-5.
Spencer Scheer had an RBI double for the other NWU extra base hit.
Cam Lulow was solid as the starting pitcher going six innings allowing two earned runs on six hits with two strikeouts and a walk.
NWU will close out the regular season this weekend with a three-game series at Luther College.
