TUCSON, Ariz. – Former conference opponent Dordt College had two 7-run innings to defeat the Nebraska Wesleyan baseball team 14-8 on Monday (March 11) in the opening game of the Prairie Wolves spring trip to Arizona.
 
The Defenders plated seven runs in the 3^rd inning then seven more in the 6^th inning to move to 3-4 on the season.  NWU (0-5) pulled within one run at 7-6 in the top of the 6^th inning, but couldn't shut down the Defenders in the bottom of the inning.
 
Dordt starting pitcher Isaac Buteyn struck out seven Prairie Wolves in the first four innings then was taken out of the game with the Defenders ahead 7-0.  In the seven run 3^rd inning, Dordt had five hits including three doubles.
 
NWU took advantage of the Defender bullpen struggles to battle back into the contest.  The first three batters walked to load the bases with no outs.  An error by the third baseman allowed the first run to score then a dropped fly ball allowed three NWU runs to score making it 7-4.
 
In the top of the 6^th inning, Spencer Scheer hit a two-run single to pull the Prairie Wolves to within one run at 7-6 and it was a new game.
 
However, five errors in the bottom of the 6^th inning allowed Dordt to score seven runs and make it an eight-run Defender advantage.
 
The Prairie Wolves scored two runs in the top of the 8^th inning, but the lead was too big to overcome.  Derek Kolbush had an RBI single and Will Watkins drove in Tyler Winterstein with a sacrifice fly to account for the NWU runs.
 
Connor Cech was the starting pitcher for the Prairie Wolves throwing five innings allowing seven runs on eight hits with four strikeouts.  Trey Pavlik pitched 1/3 of an inning and Tucker McHugh pitched the final 2 2/3 giving up one earned run with three strikeouts.
 
Spencer Scheer and Zach Plummer were the two NWU players with multiple hits.
 
Rain in the area cancelled NWU games on Tuesday versus Wesleyan University so the Prairie Wolves will return to the diamond on Wednesday (March 13) against Bethany Lutheran.