STORM LAKE, Iowa — Nebraska Wesleyan plated 18 runs on 13 hits in a dominant game one victory before dropping a walk-off heartbreaker in the nightcap, splitting an American Rivers Conference doubleheader with Buena Vista Tuesday at BVU/Storm Lake HS Baseball Field.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Nebraska Wesleyan 18, Buena Vista 2
Junior Owen Duckworth was masterful on the mound, going seven innings and earning the win to improve to 1-5 on the season. Duckworth scattered seven hits and two earned runs while tying his season high with four strikeouts, throwing 103 pitches in a workmanlike outing. Freshman Louis Hoffart closed things out with a scoreless eighth inning, striking out one.
The Prairie Wolves wasted no time at the plate, scoring in six of eight innings and sending the Beavers' pitching staff to the hill six times. Senior Duncan Ortega led the way, going 3-for-6 with three RBI and three runs scored, highlighted by an RBI double in the seventh that blew the game open. Senior Easton Johnson drew two intentional walks and added a two-run triple among his three RBI, crossing the plate three times despite logging just two official at-bats.
Senior Brady Bell was equally productive, going 3-for-3 with two RBI and three runs scored, driving in runs with two outs in back-to-back appearances. Freshman Caleb DeWitt added a sacrifice fly in the eighth as NWU sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, plating seven runs to put the game out of reach at 18-2.
Game 2: Buena Vista 7, Nebraska Wesleyan 6
The nightcap told a different story. The game was tied 5-5 through five innings, but Buena Vista chipped away and delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the ninth when Johnson singled home Sobeck to complete the walk-off victory.
Easton Johnson led the offensive charge for the Prairie Wolves in the loss, going 3-for-5 with three RBI and a double, driving in all three runs with runners in scoring position. Bell continued his strong evening, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a pair of stolen bases. Junior Brayden Harvey, added a two-RBI single in the fourth as NWU's most productive hit with runners aboard.
Freshman starter Caleb DeWitt allowed three runs in three innings before Dominic Sis and Tyler Spreitzer combined to hold Buena Vista relatively at bay through the eighth. Spreitzer was particularly effective, working three innings of relief and allowing just one earned run. Freshman Garrett Walsh tried to close the door in the ninth before Buena Vista plated the walk-off in the ninth.
UP NEXT
The Prairie Wolves travel to Dubuque, Iowa, for a three-game series with the University of Dubuque beginning Friday at 6 p.m.
