LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska Wesleyan battled into extra innings Saturday afternoon but Hastings College used a wind-aided home run in the 10th inning to escape with a 5-4 victory at NWU Baseball Championship Stadium at Sandhills Global Youth Complex.
The Prairie Wolves (2-3) used a four-run fourth inning to build an early lead, but Hastings gradually worked back into the game before delivering the decisive swing in extras. Nebraska Wesleyan had traffic on the bases throughout the afternoon but was unable to produce another hit after its fourth-inning surge.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Nebraska Wesleyan starter Owen Duckworth kept the Broncos in check early as both teams searched for offense through the first three innings. The Broncos got an uneared run in the first inning.
The Prairie Wolves broke through in the fourth inning with their most productive stretch of the afternoon. Easton Johnson reached on a fielder's choice before Duncan Ortega delivered a double that brought Johnson home for the Prairie Wolves first run.
Nebraska Wesleyan continued to apply pressure at the plate, stringing together three straight singles, drawing a walk, and adding another base hit to cap a four-run inning. All five Prairie Wolf hits in the game came during that fourth-inning rally.
Hastings chipped away in the middle innings to even the score and send the game into the late frames.
The Prairie Wolves' pitching staff delivered in key moments to keep the game tied. In the eighth inning, Caleb DeWitt worked out of a bases-loaded situation with a strikeout to strand three runners. DeWitt came through again in the ninth, recording another strikeout with a runner on third to force extra innings.
In the 10th, Hastings' leadoff hitter lifted a fly ball to right field that continued to drift over the fence for the go-ahead home run. Nebraska Wesleyan was unable to respond in the bottom half as the Broncos secured the 5-4 win.
NWU Notes
- Five Prairie Wolves recorded hits in the contest: Duncan Ortega (San Antonio, Texas / Sandra Day O'Connor), Owen Duckworth (Aurora, Colo. / Cherokee Trail), Brady Bell (Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln East), Tanner Klein (Hickman, Neb. / Norris), and Sam Schaefer (Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln North Star).
- Jaxon Volkmer (Lincoln, Neb. / Lincoln Northeast) reached base twice at the top of the lineup, drawing a pair of walks.
- Eli Eldred (Gilbert, Iowa / Gilbert) made his first appearance for the Prairie Wolves, tossing two scoreless innings.
- The loss moves Nebraska Wesleyan to 44-52 all-time against Hastings. The Broncos also claimed last season's meeting in Lincoln, 6-4. The teams will meet again March 25 in Hastings.
UP NEXT
Nebraska Wesleyan heads to Pensacola, Fla., this week for the Blue Wahoos Classic. The Prairie Wolves will open the trip Tuesday, March 10 at 10:00 a.m. CT against No. 10 Wisconsin-Whitewater, the defending national champions. It will be the first meeting between the two programs.
