BOLIVAR, Mo. – Timely hitting combined with a solid outing from
Sam Shively (Mishawaka, Ind./Mishawaka (Taylor)) helped the Purdue Northwest baseball team cruise to a 7-2 victory at Southwest Baptist on Saturday evening.
Shively, who made his PNW debut and his first collegiate start, did not give up a run until the eighth inning as the Pride led comfortably. The sophomore right-hander struck out nine and surrendered just three hits to earn the win.
PNW (2-1) got Shively an early lead in the top of the first inning by way of four walks including three from the starting pitcher.
Tyler Schultz (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) drew the fourth walk of the inning allowing
Hayden Matulich (San Jose, Calif./Pioneer) to trot on in from third base.
Then, the Pride offense turned up the heat in the second inning when the first five batters reached base thanks to a leadoff walk by
Anthony Fumagalli (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North High School) and consecutive singles from
Gannon Andrews (Portage, Mich./Portage Northern High School),
Luke Montgomery (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence High School), Matulich and
Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel).
Matulich's single into left center plated Fumagalli and Andrews, followed by Imlach's single to left field that brought in Montgomery for a 5-0 lead.
In the fifth inning, Schultz laced a hot shot up the middle for a double that brought
Ray Hilbrich (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) all the way from first after he led off the inning with a single. Fumagalli would tack on the final insurance run in the seventh when he singled to left field with two outs to score Hilbrich.
Shively's shutout ended in the bottom of the eighth after a leadoff walk and a home run cut the lead down to 7-2.
Joe Tor (Homer Glen, Ill./Lockport (South Surburban CC)), who also made his PNW debut, came in and finished the game on the bump over the final two frames.
Hilbrich and Schultz led the way offensively each going 3 for 4 at the plate. Hilbrich added one RBI and two runs scored while Schultz drove in two.
Matulich drove in a pair of runs, going 1 for 3 on the night and scoring a pair of runs to spur on the offensive attack.
UP NEXT
The Pride will look to win the series when both teams return to action on Sunday. First pitch is slated for 11 a.m. CST.
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