Lincoln, NE (February 27, 2025) - Nebraska Wesleyan baseball teed off the Jeff Christy era with a sweep of Hamline University Thursday afternoon. The Prairie Wolves won game one 11-5, before taking game two 11-10 in 10 innings.

GAME ONE 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Despite coming out fired up for the 2025 season, Nebraska Wesleyan ceded a two run home run in the first inning. However, NWU tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on an RBI single from Duncan Ortega. Ortega would go on to score on a sacrifce fly from Brady Bell later in the inning. After a scoreless second, Easton Johnson drove in Duncan Ortega and Carter Betts with an RBI single to right field. Johnson would go on to score on a two out Tommy Fiochhi single. NWU would tack on two more runs in the fourth on an error by Hamline's first basemen. The Prairie Wolf offense continued to pour it on in the fifth, with Tommy Fiocchi launching a solo home run to center field. Then, after reaching base on an error, Brayden Harvey went on to score on an Aaron Chazin RBI double. The Pipers continued to fight in the sixth as they put up three runs, a Brady Bell home run in the bottom half of the inning silenced any hope of a comeback. NWU would put out all three of Hamline's batters in the seventh and secure an 11-5 win. On the mound, Trevor Storer delivered a strong opening performance, giving up six hits and allowing three earned runs while striking out two over 5.1 innings of work. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Duncan Ortega (SS): 4 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 2 RBI
• Brady Bell: (1B): 3 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI
• Tommy Fiocchi (RF): 3 AB, 1 R, 2 H, 2 RBI
• Easton Johnson (3B):4 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 2 RBI
• Jake Gerardis (DH): 4 AB, 1 H, 2 RBI
• Aaron Chazin (CF): 4 AB, 2 R, 3 H, 1 RBI
• Trevor Storer (W, 1-0): 4.1 IP, 0 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 SO, 2 BB

GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED
Nebraska Wesleyan picked up where they ended game one with a explosive first inning that saw Jake Gerardis drive in Carter Betts. Gerardis would go on to score on a Brady Bell triple. Bell made his way around the bases and scored on a wild pitch that walked Tyler Merkel. Merkel would go on to score on an error by Hamline's first basemen. The Pipers quickly responded with seven runs in the top of the second inning. From there, Nebraska Wesleyan fought valiantly to get back in the game, with Carter Betts cutting the deficit to two on a fourth inning solo shot to right field. Then in the sixth, Aaron Chazin drove in Dakota Pruitt before scoring the tying run on a Duncan Ortega single. With two men on, Tyler Merkel crushed a three run home run to center field to give Nebraska Wesleyan a 10-7 lead. However, Hamline refused to go away, scoring two runs in the seventh and one in the eighth to tie the game at 10. After a scoreless ninth, the game went to extra innings. In the 10th, Hamline threatened by getting one runner to second base with two outs before Brady Bell got a key lineout to ensure Nebraska Wesleyan had the final shot to end the game. The Prairie Wolves took advantage of the clutch out as Jake Gerardis would score on a sacrifice fly by Tyler Merkel, which gave Nebraska Wesleyan a thrilling 11-10 come from behind victory. 

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Tyler Merkel (C): 5 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 5 RBI, 1 BB
• Aaron Chazi  (CF): 5 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI, 1 BB
• Carter Betts (SS): 3 AB, 3 R, 2 H, 1 RBI, 2 BB
• Duncan Ortega (3B): 6 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI
• Jake Gerardis (2B): 6 AB, 2 R, 2 H, 1 RBI
• Brady Bell (DH): 6 AB, 1 R, 1 H, 1 RBI
• Owen Duckworth (1B): 3 AB, 1 H, 1 RBI, 2 BB
• Connor Burress (SP): 2.0 IP, 5 H, 7 R, 3 ER, 1 SO
• Brady Bell (W 1-0): 2.0 IP, 1 H, 3 SO

SERIES NOTES

• Thursday marks the second consecutive season where NWU has opened by winning their first game 11-1, and their second game 11-10. 
• The Black and Gold evened the all-time series between the two programs to two a piece.
• NWU has swept two of its last three season opening series.

UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan remains at home to host Lawrence University this weekend. The Prairie Wolves and Vikings will play a three game series, with games one and two being played on Saturday, and game three being contested on Sunday.