Minneapolis, MN -- North Central University Baseball struggled to open up their 2023 season. The Rams dropped both games against the Hamline University Pipers at US Bank Stadium. North Central was the road team for game one and the home team for game two. 

Game One:

In game one, the Rams put Teagan Burch on the mound to start the season. Out of the gates, the Pipers were having their way. They scored on the Rams in the first four innings of the game. The Pipers starting pitcher stifled the Blue and Gold, having a no-hitter going through the first four innings as well. After four, the score sat at 0-9 in favor of the Pipers. It was in the top of the fifth where the Rams were finally able to get a hit off the Pipers starting pitcher. Julian Encinas got the action started with a sharp single to right field with one out. Daniel Montana followed that up with a singe up the middle to center field. However Hamline's starter was able to find his rhythm again, at get out of the inning allowing no runs.

After finding a little momentum with the bats, North Central was able to pick it up defensively as well, getting the 0 spot in the bottom of the 5th they had been looking for. Michael Escalante was able to lead off with the single in the top of the sixth, giving the Rams yet another shot to make something happen. Escalante was able to get to third base by the innings end but North Central still could not get a run on the board. Hamline would post another two runs in the bottom half of the inning stretching the lead to 11-0. In a final rally effort, the Rams went into the top of the seventh looking for something to get them going. After getting a base runner on first do to a walk, Christian Rodriguez hit a missile to the center right gap that one hopped the fence. In an effort to get a run on the board, the Rams were aggressive on the base path. Sending the runner from first all the way home, he was thrown out at the plate to end the game. 

Game Two:

To begin game two, Escalante would get the start. The Rams would forget about game one quickly and tack on a run in the bottom of the second thanks to a RBI by Nate Boyer. After a good first two innings defensively, Hamline would pile on six runs in the top of the third. Sloppy defense from the Rams would lead to four of those runs being unearned. Two more runs from The Pipers would extend the lead to eight by the middle of the fourth. Montana would get hit by a pitch and the bats would wake up right after that. Nicolas Sheley and Encinas would hit back to back doubles, putting them both in scoring position, while scoring a run on both hits. A single to right center from Jon Roberts would score two more runs bringing the score to 4-9 in favor of The Pipers. One more run would be added in the fourth off a wild pitch, finishing the inning at 5-9. 

The Pipers would extend the lead however, getting another run in the top of the fifth, but NCU would respond with a run of their own in the bottom of the fifth. Burch would reach base and Montana knocked him in with another double to left center field, bring the score to 6-10. Solid defense from the Rams in the sixth and seventh gave them an opportunity to bring the game back to even in the bottom of the seventh, however, no runs would be scored after a promising rally that the team had brewing. The game ended with a double play after a long fly ball was caught, getting the base runners stranded on the base path. Final for game two would end at 6-11 in favor of the Pipers.

Key Performers: 

• Daniel Montana (Tuscon, AZ) with a combined stat line from both games of 2-4 with a double and a pair of walks.
• Jon Roberts (Kyle, TX) 2-3 with a double and two RBI's in game two.
• Christian Rodriguez (Tuscon, AZ) notching a triple in game one and 2.2 innings of scoreless pitching in game two.

Looking Ahead:

North Central's Baseball team will make their way down to Florida for a spring break trip in Fort Myers where they will play six games over a six day stretch. 

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