ROMEOVILLE, Ill. -- The Purdue University Northwest baseball team jumped out early on the game and often which helped the Pride defeat Lewis in a non-conference game at Brennan Field, 10-3, Thursday.
The Pride jumped out with six quick runs in the first inning. Hunter Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage) made it 1-0 after hitting an RBI double to left center which scored Nick Albanese (Algonquin, Ill./Marian Central Catholic).
Ray Hilbrich (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) continued the scoring with a double that scored Thorn of his own extending the lead to 2-0. Brett Veltema (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) had an RBI single for a 3-0 lead.
Anthony Agne (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) gave PNW a 5-0 lead with his RBI single, scoring Hunter Ryan (Hebron, Ind./Hebron). The Pride batted around added another run for a 6-0 advantage when Thorn drew a bases-loaded walk which scored Agne.
Lewis got a run back in the bottom of the second to make it 6-1.
Thorn hit a sacrifice fly which scored Agne in the fifth inning to extend the lead to 7-1. The next inning, Veltema connected on his second home run of the season to make it 8-1.
An inning later, Albanese hit his first home run of the season over the right field fence in the seventh inning which made it 9-1. Lewis was able to respond with two runs in the bottom half of the frame to make it 9-3 PNW.
John Cory (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) ripped an RBI double to left in the eighth inning to extend it to 10-3. The score would hold as PNW came away with the victory.
PNW starting pitcher Jade Doyle (Greenwood, Ind./Center Grove) recorded his first win of the season (1-1) after going six innings, scattering four hits, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out two.
Caden Bell (Hammond, Ind./HAST) recorded his first save of the season after throwing three quality innings to shut the door. Bell only allowed one hit and struck out two.
PNW (14-14) returns to action Friday, April 12 as the Pride starts a four-game Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series with a doubleheader at Davenport starting at 2 p.m. CT.
