LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Wesleyan baseball celebrated its 16 seniors in style Saturday, sweeping Wartburg in a doubleheader at Sandhills Global Youth Complex. The Prairie Wolves took Game 1, 4-0, behind Theo Hughes' complete-game shutout, then rallied late to win Game 2, 4-3. NWU improved to 21-16 (10-11 A-R-C), solidifying its postseason momentum.
How It Happened
Game 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 4, Wartburg 0
Hughes (4-1) dominated, striking out a career-high 13 batters, the most by a Prairie Wolves pitcher since before 2014, while allowing just two hits. The right-hander tossed NWU's first complete-game shutout in two years.
Offensively, NWU broke through in the fourth when Tommy Fiocchi's sacrifice fly scored Brady Bell, who walked and stole two bases. Nick Roghair (3-for-3, 3 doubles) scored in a run in the fifth, while Duncan Ortega's RBI double in the seventh capped the scoring.
Key Stats:
- Theo Hughes: 9.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K (117 pitches)
- Nate Roghair: 3-for-3, 3 2B, 1 R
- NWU Defense: 0 errors.
Game 2: Nebraska Wesleyan 4, Wartburg 3
Down 3-0 early, NWU chipped away. Aaron Chazin's RBI single in the third scored Roghair, who doubled. Easton Johnson struck in the fourth, plating Duncan Ortega to cut the deficit to 3-2.
The seventh inning sealed it: Tyler Merkel (pinch-running) scored on Roghair's RBI groundout to tie it, then Aaron Chazin's go-ahead double brought home Fiocchi. Reliever Max Brammier (3-2) earned the win, and Brady Bell closed the ninth for his sixth save.
Key Stats:
Senior Day Spotlight
NWU honored 16 seniors pregame.The class has now won 30 games over the past two seasons.
Up Next
The Prairie Wolves travel to face Luther on Friday in their final A-R-C series. First pitch in Decorah Iowa is set for 1 p.m.
