Roseville, MN -- North Central's Baseball team (NCU) battled against the Martin Luther College Knights. They would score a combined 21 runs in both games. NCU would post 18 hits in game two and it would help propel them to a win.
Game one:
Christian Rodriguez trotted out to the mound for game one. After three quick outs, NCU would come up to bat. Mike Maanum would lead off the game with a hit but would be out on a fielder's choice on a ball hit by Kyle Huerth. Huerth would get himself into scoring position by stealing second. He would steal third in the inning also. After back-to-back walks, Casey Welsh would ground out to first base, scoring the first run of the game. Michael Escalante would hit a single scoring another run, and moving the runner to third. Escalante would claim the third stolen bag for the Rams in the inning. During the play, the ball would be overthrown and a run would cross the plate and put Escalante on third base. Julian Encinas would single to center field scoring the fourth run of the inning for NCU. After taking a 4-0 lead they wouldn't allow Martin Luther to score. Maanum would come back up to the plate, reaching on an error. Huerth would hit a triple to right field, scoring Maanum. Daniel Montana would draw a walk and steal second. On the steal, Huerth would steal home bringing their lead to six. Martin Luther would score two in the top of the third inning. The game would pick up pace as no runs would be scored until the top of the eighth by the Knights. NCU would grab another run thanks to a similar play in the third with runners on first and third. The runner would steal second and the runner on third would run home on the throw down. The Blue and Gold would win game one 7-3.
Game two:
Teagan Burch started on the mound for game two and the Knights would score a quick run in the first. Martin Luther would score again in the top of the second, but NCU would come back and take the lead in the bottom of the inning. Chris Garza would reach on an error and get to third base on the error. Rodriguez would hit a double scoring him. Nate Boyer would reach on an error advancing the runner to third. Rodriguez would score on a past ball. Maanum would hit a double and score Boyer in the process. Martin Luther got one back, tying the game at three. in the bottom of the third, Montana would hit a double, and score later on a passed ball. Escalante hit a single in the inning also, and Garza would single to right field putting runners on first and third. Rodriguez had an RBI single bringing the game to 5-3. The Knights would get one back in the top of the fourth, but North Central would score another two runs in their half of the inning thanks to Encinas and Escalante having two RBI hits. Martin Luther would take the lead in the fifth, scoring four runs and gaining a 9-7 lead. The Rams would storm back and score four runs of their own on two outs. Maanum led the rally with a double, and Huerth knocked him in. Montana hit a single, and Burch followed with a double to center, scoring two runs. Encinas would switch places with him and the inning would end two batters later. NCU had retaken the lead 11-9. Martin Luther would get their last run of the game in the top of the sixth. The Blue and Gold would lead off the bottom of the seventh with a walk. Encinas hit a single and Escalante would hit an RBI double. Garza singled to right field scoring two runs and capping off the scoring. The North Central Rams won game two 14-10.
Top Performers:
- Daniel Montana (Tucson, AZ) went 3-6 and scoring five runs.
- Julian Encinas (Tucson, AZ) had himself a day hitting 5-10 with 4 RBIs.
- Mike Maanum (Fergus Falls, MN) swung 5-8 at the plate with a single RBI.
Looking Ahead:
North Central Baseball will head back to Roseville on Sunday to host UW-Superior in a doubleheader, with the first pitch at noon.
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