WOLVES DROP NSIC TWINBILL TO SOUTHWEST STATE

April 11, 2002

Picha Threw - Sophomore Rob Picha was one of four Wolves pitchers to see action in the second game against Southwest State Thursday. Senior Ryan Albrecht started the game but left after three innings due to injury.

Northern lost 8-7 and 15-1 to Southwest State University (Marshall, Minn.) Thursday in a Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference doubleheader at Fossum Field in Aberdeen.

In the first game, NSU (7-20, 0-10 NSIC) led by as many as 6-1 after the second inning thanks in large part to a grand slam from freshman first baseman Wesley Fisbeck (Loveland, Colo.).

Despite a gutty complete game performance from senior pitcher Andrew Lyke (Lakeville, Minn.), the Mustangs chipped their back into the game. NSU led 7-5 in the top of the seventh, but SSU was able to reel off three runs and register three strikeouts to end the game.

In the second game, senior pitcher Ryan Albrecht (Aberdeen) suffered an injury to his arm after the third inning. NSU would end up using four pitchers in the game and giving up 16 hits, while Southwest pitchers held the Wolves to just four hits. With the wins, Southwest improved to 12-11 overall and 4-2 in the NSIC to stay in the conference race.

Highlights for Northern included sophomore Alex Long (St. Helens, Ore.), who went 3-for-6 on the day including one run scored and one RBI. Fisbeck also had a good day overall, going 3-for-8 with four RBI and two runs scored.

Northern resumes play Saturday with a conference doubleheader at Minnesota-Crookston. First pitch is set for 1:30 p.m. In a strange twist, the teams will both board the buses Saturday night and make the five-hour trek back to Northern for another doubleheader Sunday so each squad can have the same number of home and away games in the new league schedule. First game at Northern is also set for 1:30 p.m.