Concordia-St. Paul tallied a late run to sneak past Northern 5-4 in the first game.
The Wolves scored twice in the second inning and added a run in the third in the opening game, on just three hits. Maurice Rodriguez reached after being hit by a pitch to start the inning and after a pair of strikeouts, Buddy Traxler singled. Derek Tymesen slapped a double to left center to plate the first two Northern runs.
Northern’s final run scored when Clayton Nutting was hit by a pitch with one out in the third and eventually scored on a throwing error by the pitcher.
Northern State pitcher Sean Winslow held the Golden Bears in check for five innings, allowing four hits with two walks and two strikeouts. Concordia-St. Paul broke through for a run in the sixth inning on a wild pitch.
“We pitched very well,” said NSU coach Dean Berry. “(Winslow’s) arm is starting to come around. He gave us a good start and a good opportunity to win the game. You get some timely hitting and a lot of things can happen. I was proud of how we bounced back.”
Most of the action in the first game came in the seventh inning. Trailing 3-1, the Wolves mounted a three-run rally. Robbie Rocamora’s double scored the first run and two more runs scored on a fielding error.
The Golden Bears put together a rally of their own, helped out by a NSU throwing error, which put a CSP player at second base with one out. Paul Giel’s single tied the game at 4-4 and Kyle Dalton followed with a walk and Greg Larpenter provided the game-winning single.
Northern collected nine hits in the first game, led by Brent Lawrence, Nate Russell and Rocamora with two each. Robert Fahlin had a triple in each game for Northern. Starting pitcher Nate Nietfield went five innings, surrendering three runs on six hits with one strikeout. Adam Thompson took the loss in a relief role.
“We had opportunities to win both games and lose both games,” Berry said. “We did a lot of things well and there’s alot to be happy about.”
The Wolves will face Bemidji State today at the Metrodome in a 10:45 a.m. doubleheader.
Game One
Northern State…000…001…3—4…9…2
Concordia-St. Paul…003…000…2—5…8…1
Nathan Nietfield, Ben Buckingham (6), Adam Thompson (7) and Buddy Traxler; Andy Fagely, Colton Petron (7) and Conor McDougall. 2B — Northern, Robbie Rocamora, Traxler. 3B — Northern, Robert Fahlin; Concordia-St. Paul, Paul Giel.
Game Two
Concordia-St. Paul…000…001…0—1…7…1
Northern State021…000…x—3…3…1
Zach Rengel, Griff Kilber (6) and Jared Kramer; Sean Winslow, Andrew Crisman (6), Clint Manzo (6) and Traxler. 2B — Concordia-St. Paul, Elliot Powell; Northern, Derek Tymesen. 3B — Northern, Fahlin.
