Mount Mercy at Northwestern

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Northwestern picked up it's first win of the season in the season opener versus Mount Mercy College in the Metrodome on Saturday night, winnig 4-2.  The Red Raiders got strong pitching from Mihai Burlea, Trevor Kuiper, and Joe Grady and timely hitting by freshman Mike Zoellner.  

Northwestern got on the board first, Brett Westra scoring from first on a Zoellner triple in the second inning.  Zoellner came home on a double play ball, but Northwestern had the lead 2-0.  Burlea, last season's GPAC Pitcher-of-the-Year, pitched like he was in mid-season form, giving up two hits, one run, one walk, and striking out six in three innings of work.  Burlea handed the ball to lefty junior Kuiper and Kuiper also pitched as if he was in mid-season form, allowing three hits, 1 run, and striking out three in three innings.

With Northwestern leading 2-1 in the sixth, Joe Heitritter and Grant Wall started the inning off with singles and Codie Zeutenhorst added a flyball to right-center allowing both runners to move up setting up Zoellner with two runners in scoring position.  Zoellner did not disappoint, lacing a one out single driving in both Heitritter and Wall.  Now leading 4-1, the Raiders handed the ball to Joe Grady to complete the save and secure the victory.  Grady struck out two Mustangs and faced four hitters while collecting his first save this season and the fourth of his career.

Northwestern outhit Mt. Mercy six to five, Zoellner and Heitritter each had two hits, Grant Wall and Brad Payne also added hits for the Raiders. Northwestern hurlers struck out 11 Mustang batters and had only one walk.