Red Raiders Sweep Doane in GPAC Baseball Doubleheader

NORTHWESTERN 4     DOANE 2

Mihai Burlea scattered nine hits and picked up his fourth win of the season in the Red Raiders 4-2 win over Doane in game one of a GPAC doubleheader. Northwestern improved to 4-1 in the GPAC and 11-8 overall. The Red Raiders were outhit 9-5 but made the most of their opportunities at the plate.  Grant Wall and Mike Zoellner each had two hits, Wall drove in two runs while Zoellner drove in one.  Austin Malone, Wall, courtesy runner Brett Westra, and Matt Gray each scored runs for Northwestern.  Grant Wall stole home in the fifth inning putting Northwestern ahead 4-1 and Burlea kept the Tigers at bay offense in check sealing the win for the Red Raiders.

GAME ONE BOX SCORE

NORTHWESTERN 8     DOANE 5

Northwestern battled back from a 4-0 first inning deficit defeating Doane 8-5 to complete the sweep on Saturday afternoon in Crete, Neb.  Northwestern managed three runs in the second inning, Kent Drickey got the scoring started for the Raiders smashing a two run single up the middle to cut the Tiger lead in half, 4-2.  Grant Wall later hit a bases loaded sac fly scoring Drickey to make the score 4-3 after two complete innings.  Doane managed another run in the fourth off of Red Raider starter Trevor Kuiper but Northwestern answered with three in the bottom of the fifth to take a 6-5 lead.  Codie Zeutenhorst and Mike Zoellner each had RBI base hits in the inning and Curt Bomgaars hit a sac fly to score the third and go ahead run.  The Tigers chased Kuiper in the sixth inning with one out and one on and the Raiders turned to Joe Grady for the five out save.  Grady gave up a double and a walk but stranded the bases loaded and more importantly kept the lead for Northwestern.  

Coach Wede's squad added another two runs in the bottom half of the sixth behind Zeutenhorst's two-RBI single with the bases loaded.  Grady pitched a perfect seventh for his fourth save of the season.  Six Raiders had hits including Zeutenhorst and Heitritter who each had two hits to lead the way.  Kuiper picked up his second win of the season and is 2-1.  Northwestern moved to 5-1 in the GPAC and 12-8 overall.  The Red Raiders are in first place in the GPAC standings, which are listed below.

GAME TWO BOX SCORE