HAMMOND, Ind. – Purdue Northwest's Chad Patrick was untouchable Saturday at Dowling Park in leading the Pride to a series-opening 3-0 win over Concordia-St. Paul. The Golden Bears rallied for the 7-5 victory in Game 2.
 
GAME 1: PNW 3, CSP 0
Patrick was one out away before CSP's Ryan Bastyr broke up the no-hit bid in the seventh. The right-hander opened the game by striking out the side and mowed down the Golden Bears all afternoon.
 
Patrick logged his second shutout in two starts this season with a career-high 15 strikeouts – one shy of the program's D2 era record. Former Pride hurler Kyle Flessner struck out 16 batters in a one-hitter against Wayne State on April 7, 2018.
 
PNW pushed all three runs and logged all four of its hits in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Hunter Thorn plated two runs on a one-out double to left center. Three batters later, senior shortstop Anthony Fumagalli knocked in the final run to make it 3-0.
 
Junior Ray Hilbrich and senior Brett Veltema had the other two singles for the Pride.
 
CSP starter Luke DeGrammon was tagged with the loss in four innings of work. He surrendered three earned runs on four hits, four walks and a hit batter.
 
GAME 2: CSP 7, PNW 5
PNW led the second game of the non-conference twinbill after seven frames 5-1, but the visitors rallied with six runs in the top of the eighth.
 
Ray Hansen homered in the sixth to break a 1-1 tie for the first long ball at Dowling Park this season.
 
Three straight singles with two outs in the seventh plated three more runs for the Pride. Freshman Luke Montgomery and Hilbrich started the damage by drawing two-out walks. Thorn, Veltema and Hansen delivered the clutch hits to extend the lead.
 
Brandon Haczynski got the start, allowing only one earned on five hits with six punchouts. The right-hander left with two gone in the fifth.
 
CSP recorded six hits in the eighth, including four consecutive doubles followed by a two-run homer. The Golden Bears outhit the Pride 12-9 in the nightcap.
 
PNW had the tying run at the plate in its final at-bat, but the game ended on a double play. Both teams stranded eight runners in the contest.
 
Veltema and Hansen each had two hits while Hilbrich doubled and walked three times.
 
CSP reliever Eric Lundell earned the win while Jonah Lewis picked up the two-inning save.
 
NEXT UP
PNW (3-1) and CSP (1-1) wrap up the series tomorrow with a doubleheader at Dowling Park. First pitch in the opening contest is slated for 11 a.m. CST.