The Northwestern baseball team dropped its spring season opener at Doane by a score of 17-9. Though the Raiders played the majority of the game well defensively, the Tigers found a way to pound out 17 hits and score just as many runs. The Raiders put more men on the bags throughout the game, but couldn’t capitalize as they left 11 runners on base.
Both teams’ pitchers tried to shake off the rust of the winter layover. Junior Mike Zoellner started off on the bump for NW, and went three innings, giving up only one run. Juniors Eddie Pantzlaff and Jared Kirkeby, senior Drew Nonnemacher and sophomore Taylor Morris came out of the bullpen throughout the game as well.
From the batter’s box, senior catcher Clint Gingerich went 2-5 and knocked in three RBIs, while junior centerfielder Steve Englund knocked in two runs. Sophomore Noah Bohlmann went 3-5 and freshman Cody Groskreutz went 3-4 while playing leftfield for the Raiders.
The Raiders started their trip to Joplin, Miss. on Thursday night and will play four games on Friday and Saturday.