MIDLAND, Mich. – Purdue Northwest (6-8, 0-5 GLIAC) dropped the series opener at Northwood (12-3, 4-1 GLIAC) Friday afternoon by a final score of 10-4.
Northwood scored four unearned runs in the third and rode that momentum for a run in each of the next four frames.
In the third, PNW had a chance for an inning-ending double play but a throwing error kept the Timberwolves alive. An RBI groundout came in the next at-bat, and that was followed by a two-run homer from NU's Connor Kin to open the floodgates.
PNW added two runs in the sixth on back-to-back RBI hits from
Ray Hilbrich and
Hunter Thorn. Hilbrich, who has reached base safely in 21 consecutive games, roped an opposite-field double to left which scored
Luke Montgomery from second base. Thorn stepped in next and lined a single to center field to bring Hilbrich across.
Thorn went 3-for-4 with a double for his second straight outing with three hits. It was Thorn's 10th career game with three base knocks and four of those have been against Northwood.
Montgomery (2-for-5) and
Anthony Fumagalli (2-for-4, RBI) also notched multi-hit efforts at the plate.
The Pride recorded four doubles with one each from Thorn, Hilbrich,
Anthony Agne and
Trey Johnson – who recorded his first collegiate hit and RBI in the ninth.
PNW racked up 11 hits but stranded seven runners in the contest. Northwood freshman left-hander Derek Clark improved to 4-0 with seven hits allowed and five strikeouts in 7.1 innings of work.
Sophomore
Anthony Noble (0-2) took the loss in his second start for the Pride, despite only allowing two earned runs. The right-hander went five innings with 10 hits surrendered, one strikeout and no walks.
NU tallied nine extra-base hits including home runs by Kin, Lawson Burnett and Matt Mango.
NEXT UP
PNW will look to snap the slide tomorrow with a doubleheader against these same Timberwolves. Game 1 has been moved up to an 11 a.m. local time (ET) start.