WOLVES STEAL ONE OF TWO FROM SOUTHWEST STATE

April 15, 2003

NSU's Joe Fuller is called out on a force at third in Tueday's twinbill with Southwest State. Also pictured is SSU third baseman Jeff Groebner and shortstop Brendan Rokke.

Aberdeen, SD - The Northern State University baseball team held its own against one of the NSIC's top teams on Tuesday afternoon at Fossum Field splitting with Southwest State. NSU fell in the first game by a score of 19-8 but rebounded nicely with a 12-6 victory in windy conditions.

Following are breif game summaries of the Wolves' doubleheader against Southwest State on Tuesday:

Northern State held a 5-4 advantage in game one of Tuesday's doubleheader with Southwest State until the Mustangs broke the game open with five runs in the fourth, four in the sixth and six in the seventh to finish off the Wolves 19-8. NSU saw three players with two hits in the game (Jay Duehring, Joel Backous and Joe Fuller) with Backous leading the way with two runs scored, two RBI and a home run. Jay Duehring pitched 6.0 innings in the loss giving up 12 earned runs on 12 hits and striking out four.

Jay Duehring delivers a pitch in NSU's first game versus Southwest State on Tuesday.

Northern State broke up a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the third with a six-run inning that featured four SSU walks and three hits to give the Wolves an 11-5 cushion that they would protect for the remainder of the game. Joe Dinger fared well on the hill for NSU in the win going all seven innings and allowing five earned runs on eight hits and striking out five. The win marked Dinger's fourth of the season. At the plate, sophomore Deacon Burns was 3-for-4 with three runs scored, three RBIs and his seventh home run of the season. Jay Duehring collected two hits on the day while Brendan Hinrichs and Joel Backous posted two RBIs in the game for the Wolves.

Northern State will continue conference play this weekend when they travel to Wayne State to face the Wildcats in doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday.