In the first game of a weekend series, Northwestern University was able to get off to a quick start and used its early advantage to defeat Seattle University, 6-2, Thursday evening in a non-conference collegiate baseball game at Bannerwood Park.
Northwestern (4-11) jumped on the board right away as Kyle Ruchim and Scott Heelan earned back-to-back doubles. After Heelan advanced to third on a wild pitch, Joe Hoscheit drove him in on a groundout, extending the Wildcats’ lead to 2-0.
Cody Stevens led off the second inning with a double, advanced to third on a flyout, and scored on a single by Grant Peikert. Peikert was able to advance to third base on a single by Ruchim and scored on a fielder’s choice grounder hit by Reid Hunter, giving Northwestern a 4-0 advantage.
The Wildcats loaded the bases in the fifth inning on a single, a walk, and a Redhawk error. Matt Hopfner would come in to score on a wild pitch, and Peikert’s flyout to left field was deep enough for J.R. Reimer to score Northwestern’s sixth run of the game.
Sheldon Stober (Kent, Wash.) helped the Redhawks break through with a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning. In the seventh inning, Colin Peterson (Bellingham, Wash.) led off with a triple and scored on a single by Michael McCann (Vancouver, Wash.).
Brandon Magallones earned the start and the victory for the Wildcats, allowing six hits, three walks, and two runs in seven innings of work while striking out four batters. After Stober and Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) drew back-to-back walks with one out in the eighth inning, Jake Stolley came on in relief of Pete Hofman and retired the next two Redhawk batters. Stolley again ran into trouble in the ninth inning when Peterson and McCann led off with back-to-back singles, but Stolley would retire the next three batters in order to earn the save.
Will Dennis (Saratoga, Calif.) took the loss after his worst start of the season, giving up 10 hits, three walks, and six runs in four innings on the mound. Stober finished the game 3-for-3, while Peterson also earned three hits and McCann collected the other two hits for the Redhawks.
Seattle University (5-13) will face Northwestern in a doubleheader Friday, March 13, starting at 2 p.m. at Bannerwood Park.