On Saturday, the Purdue Northwest baseball team faced off against Parkside in a nonconference doubleheader where the Pride would split.

The Basics

• Records: Purdue Northwest (3-0), Parkside (2-1)
• Location: Hammond, Indiana
• Non-conference game.

The Breakdown
Game 1:  (8-6) W  - 7 Innings

• AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) led the Pride with three hits and four RBIs, including a pivotal three-run home run.
• Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights)  added to the offense with a two-RBI single in the fourth inning.
• Bret Matthys (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) contributed an RBI single.
• Conor Pangburn (St. John, Ind./Lake Central) started on the mound for Purdue Northwest, pitching five innings with four strikeouts to earn the win.
• Eric Beck (Manteno, Ill/Manteno) closed the game with a strong inning of relief, striking out two to earn the save.
• Parkside's offense was led by P. Fusek, who collected four hits, three runs, and an RBI.
• Leitner took the loss for Parkside, pitching 3.2 innings and allowing six earned runs.
• The game began with Parkside taking an early lead in the first inning, scoring two runs on an RBI single by O. Brock. Purdue Northwest responded quickly with two runs of their own, as AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) doubled to right center, driving in Ethan Imlach (Mokena, Ill./Mount Carmel) followed by a run-scoring single from Bret Matthys (Cedar Lake, Ind./Hanover Central) to tie the game 2-2.
• In the fourth inning, the Pride's offense exploded. Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) drove in two runs with a single to right field, giving Purdue Northwest a 4-3 lead. AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) then launched a three-run homer, extending the Pride's lead to 7-3.
• Parkside attempted to rally in the fifth and sixth innings, adding three runs on RBI groundouts and singles to narrow the gap to 8-6. However, Purdue Northwest held firm with solid pitching performances from Mitchell Stanton (South Chicago Heights, Ill./Marian Catholic) and Eric Beck (Manteno, Ill/Manteno) to close out the game.

The Breakdown
Game 2: (8-7) L  - 9 Innings

• Jayden Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) and Owen Winter each had three hits and an RBI.
• Owen Walkowiak (Crown Point, Ind./Andrean) started on the mound for the pride going four innings striking out two.
• Parkside jumped out to an early lead in the second inning, scoring four runs. J. Wicker's RBI single put Parkside on the board, followed by a bases-loaded walk to P. Fusek. A. Rades then delivered a two-run double up the middle, giving Parkside a 4-0 advantage.
• Purdue Northwest responded in the bottom of the second. Owen Winters (Kouts, Ind./Kouts) doubled to right field, driving in Jayden Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) to cut the deficit to 4-1. Cole Olson (Stanton, Mich./Central Montcalm) then stole second, advanced to third on an error, and scored to make it 4-2.
• The Pride tied the game 4-4 in the third inning. Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) scored on a passed ball, and Jayden Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan) followed with an RBI single to drive in AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland).
• Parkside reclaimed the lead in the fourth with an RBI triple from A. Rades. They added two more runs in the sixth on RBI singles from K. Sato and Rades, extending their lead to 7-4.
• D. Sayles' solo home run in the seventh pushed Parkside's lead to 8-4.
• Purdue Northwest attempted a comeback in the eighth and ninth innings. Kam Earley (Pendleton, Ind./Pendleton Heights) grounded out to drive in Drake Ballard (Louisville, Ky./Martha Laynes Collins), and AJ Reid (Highland, Ind./Highland) followed with an RBI single, cutting the lead to 8-6. In the ninth, Cole Olson's (Stanton, Mich./Central Montcalm) fielder's choice brought in Jayden Smith (Allegan, Mich./Allegan), but Parkside held on to secure the win.

Up Next:
The Pride return to action March 18^th at home to take on Thomas More University in a nonconference doubleheader. The game time is set for 1:00 pm ct