New Ulm, MN - The Northland College Lumberjacks returned to action on Saturday afternoon after a long layoff as they opened their UMAC season against the Martin Luther College Knights.   The Jacks put ten hits on the board but it wasn't enough as the Knights were able to escape with a 5-4 win.  The Jacks are now 0-1 in the UMAC while the Knights improved to 1-1.  Both teams meet again tomorrow for a doubleheader to wrap up their regular season series. 

The Knights got on the board first with two runs in the bottom half of the first inning.  The Jacks got one back in the third when Jake Schram came around to score off of a Keaton Arreazola double.  After a scoreless bottom half of the third the Jacks tied the game in the fourth when Garrett Warren drove in Hunter Wicklund.  

The Knights regained their lead in the bottom half of the fifth inning with two runs to take a 4-2 lead.  After several scoreless innings the Jacks got back into the game in the top half of the eighth inning.  Vinny Trocolli was able to score off a Matt Simpson single, and Zach Ross tied the game with a sacrifice fly to right field.  

The Knights quickly took their lead back in the bottom of the eighth and threatened to break the game open, but Peyton Solberg was able to end the inning with a strikeout while the bases were loaded.  

The Jacks got a runner on in the top of the ninth but they were unable to bring him around as the Knights were able to take the 5-4 win.  Both teams play tomorrow in a double header starting at 1:00PM