NEW ULM, Minn. -- After an exciting nine innings yesterday, the North Central University (NCU) baseball team faced off with the Martin Luther College (MLC) for two more games. The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) doubleheader saw the Rams win both games, first with a score of 6-3 and then 10-9, completing the sweep of the Knights. 

Game One Recap

Riding off the success of yesterday's win, NCU started off today's game strong with a Teyghan Hovland (Austin, MN, Austin High School) run in the opening inning off of a single by Kyle Huerth (Moorpark, CA, Moorpark High School). The second and third innings didn't see much action from either team, just very quick outs from the Rams and the Knight's defenses. MLC picked it up in the fourth inning, scoring their first run of the day. NCU responded with two runs in the fifth inning. First, Matthew Oakley (Concord, NC, International Christian School of Budapest) singled up the middle to bring in Huerth following by a Christian Rodriguez (Tuscon, AZ, Catalina Foothills High School) score off of a wild pitch. The Rams scored three more times, twice in the seventh and then again in the eighth inning. Julian Encinas (Tucson, AZ, Amphitheater High school) brought in Huerth off of a single and then Encinas scored himself off another wild pitch from the Knights. NCU's final run came off a Jack Parker (Bordentown, NJ, Bordentown Regional High School) single to bring Hovland across home plate. MLC did score again in the bottom of the ninth, but the Ram's many runs and defense kept the Knights at bay.

Game Two Recap

It was an offensive flurry for the Rams to open up the second game on the afternoon. NCU scored nine in the first three innings to the Knight's single score. The first inning saw four runs from the Rams. First Hovland ran home off an error from the MLC shortstop, then Rodriguez doubled bringing in Encinas. Then Rodriguez scored on a wild pitch followed by a run from Oakley off a Kristian Garcia (Las Vegas, LV, Palo Verde High School) single to complete NCU's first scoring stint. In the second inning, Huerth scored on another wild pitch followed by Encinas, and then Oakley hit a single but made it home making the Knight's infield make error after error. Following this inning, Parker singled to left field to bring in Hovland and Rodriguez singled up the right side to bring in Huerth. Then it was MLC's turn for some offensive action scoring four runs in the fifth inning, one in the sixth, and two more in the eighth. Hovland singled in the eighth inning to bring in Garcia, putting the Rams up 10-8 by the time the ninth inning hit. MLC quickly shut down NCU in the top of the ninth but gave the Rams a little bit of a scare as they scored one run in the bottom of the final inning. But center fielder Huerth made the caught the final two outs to finish the game in victory for NCU.

Upon finishing the weekend games, NCU moves to 5-4 and 3-2 in the conference.

Key Performers

• In the first game, Kyle Huerth had a great first game with one RBI, two runs, and six put outs at center field.
• Catcher Julian Encinas recorded one RBI and two runs in the first game.
• Christian Rodriguez added two RBI's, and one run in the second game.
• Teyghan Hovland went four for five at the plate securing one RBI and two runs.

Looking Ahead

The Rams have a short rest as they play a doubleheader with Northland College Monday, Apr. 18, at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. at NCU's home field. All fan are encouraged to tune into official Rams Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter pages for updates on the baseball team and much more information.