PURDUE NORTHWEST 10, ST. FRANCIS 6

PNW Baseball welcomed the University of St. Francis (Ill.) to Dowling Park on Wednesday for the first home game of the season. Purdue Northwest defeated the Fighting Saints led by an offensive surge (16 hits) by a score of 10-6.

HOW IT HAPPENED

After giving up two quick runs in the top of the first, the Black and Gold came marching back, scoring 5 runs in the bottom half of the inning on a two RBI single from Brett Veltema, a two RBI single from Anthony Fumagalli, and an RBI double from Jacob Soules. 

In the bottom of the fourth, after two and a half quick innings, the Pride scored two more runs on a double from Ray Hansen and a single from Hunter Thorn, making the score 7-2. St. Francis scored a run in the top of the fifth, immediately answered in the following half inning by three Pride runs. Soules came up big with another RBI, after which Michael Woods and Ray Hilbrich both recorded RBI singles of their own.

St. Francis went quiet offensively until the top of eighth where they scored 3 runs on four hits. In a 10-6 ballgame, Woods entered the game in the top of the ninth to shut the door, notching a three out hold with two strikeouts.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH DAVE GRIFFIN

"It's nice to get a win at home for our first win of the season. We look forward to getting on the road and heading to Nashville this weekend."

STAT LEADERS

PNW hitters flourished on Wednesday afternoon, with every hitter gathering at least one hit and five hitters collecting two or more hits. Soules had his first three hit game of his career with two RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases. Anthony Noble threw two scoreless innings, surrendering just one hit, and Riley Gallagher pitched a lights out eighth with two strikeouts.

WHEN DO THE PRIDE PLAY NEXT?

The Pride travel to Nashville, Tennessee this upcoming weekend for a three-game set against Trevecca Nazarene University. Game one of the three game series begins at 4 PM (CT).