Northwestern's baseball team placed second in the Clearwater College Invitational this past week. The Red Raiders went 5-2 during the week to earn a spot in the championship game versus Hannibal LaGrange. Hannibal LaGrange scored in the bottom of the first to take an early 1-0 lead against starting pitcher Mihai Burlea. In the top of the third Austin Malone was hit by a pitch with one out. Malone stole second and was driven home by Joe Heitritter to even the score at 1-1.
Northwestern took a one run lead in the fifth when Malone was driven in by a one out bases loaded walk to Jake Jansen. Codie Zeutenhorst grounded into a double play to end the Raider threat, but Northwestern held a 2-1 advantage. H-LG took touched Burlea up for three more runs in the bottom of the fifth on three hits, a walk, and a hit batsman to take a 4-2 lead.
Northwestern again had the bases loaded in the sixth but a 5-3 double play by Matt Gray ended the Raider inning without any runs. The Trojans added two unearned runs in the sixth to push their lead to 6-2 heading into the seventh. Again Northwestern loaded the bases; Malone led off with a HBP, Heitritter grounded out, Grant Wall and Jansen walked, Zeutenhorst grounded into a RBI fielder's choice, and Mike Zoellner flew out to end the game at 6-3.
2008 Media Guide
