The Northwestern men’s baseball team is pushing through their conference opponents, winning five of their last six games. The team has all contributed with consistent hitting and solid pitching.
Senior Chase Rozeboom. Photo by Emilee Berry
On April 5, the team played in a home contest against Doane College. In the first match NW won a close bout 4-3. Senior third baseman Noah Bohlmann went 2-3, with two RBIs. Junior first baseman Cody Groskreutz went 1-2 with an RBI and junior second baseman Erik Widener also had an RBI. Junior pitcher Ryan Brasser pitched just over six innings, and secured his fourth win of the season with four strikeouts and gave up just two earned runs. Junior closer Matt Piocos also got his first save of the season.
In the second match NW dominated in their effort, and won by a comfortable 10-2 margin. Junior pitcher Tyler Stuerman pitched a complete-game four-hitter. Stuerman had ten strikeouts in the effort, improving his record on the season to 4-2. NW hit the ball very well with 14 knocks in the game. 11 different players had at least one hit. Senior shortstop Corey Van Gorp went 3-3 with two runs scored. Sophomore left fielder Mitch Peschon was 2-3 with three RBIs, Groskreutz also had two RBIs. Five other players each had one RBI.
On April 6, the Raiders went back to work with a doubleheader at home against Hastings College. The first game was another NW victory, with an 11-1 final. Junior catcher Davis Bloemendaal and senior pitcher Taylor Morris each went 2-4 with one and two RBIs respectively. Van Gorp and Peschon were both 2-3 and also had one and two RBIs respectively. Bohlmann had two RBIs and junior centerfielder Micah Linn had an RBI. Morris also pitched four innings, and secured his third win on the season allowing only three hits and one earned run.
In the second game of the doubleheader NW won 8-3. Bloemendaal went 2-2 with four RBIs and also scored a run of his own. Four other players also had a hit, including Van Gorp, who had two. Sophomore catcher Tony Schultz had an RBI, and Morris had an RBI as well. Freshman pitcher Isaac Horigan pitched five innings and secured his second win of the season and allowed only five hits and two earned runs.
On April 8, NW continued its home stand in a non-conference doubleheader against Waldorf College. NW lost a close match 6-5, in a game they led through six innings. Despite the loss the Raiders played well, with 13 hits as a team. Nine players for NW each had a hit, including Van Gorp, Groskreutz, Morris and Schultz, who earned two hits apiece.
NW bounced back in the second game, and won 11-2. Linn and Bloemendaal both went 3-4 and had three and two RBIs, respectively. Bohlmann had three RBIs, Van Gorp had two RBIs, and Morris had one RBI to help assist the Raiders. Piocos pitched a complete game and secured the win with five strikeouts, and allowed only two earned runs.
The Raiders will play again on Saturday at Nebraska Wesleyan.
