Baseball sweeps non-conference doubleheader against Wisconsin Lutheran College on Friday by scores of 2-0 and 4-2.

The Northland College Baseball program was back in action on Friday as they took on Wisconsin Lutheran College in a non-conference doubleheader. The games were played at Concordia-Wisconsin's field due to field conditions at WLC as part of the schedule adjustments made earlier in the week.

Game 1 featured an incredible pitching performance from Zack Nelson (Burnsville, Minn.). The senior righty needed only 64 pitches to earn the complete game shutout. He tallied six strikeouts and no walks in the contest. A fifth inning double was the only base runner Nelson allowed.

The LumberJacks got on the board in the fifth inning, as the WLC starter was able to match Nelson for much of the first four innings. Caden Willis (Kalispell, Mont.) led off the inning with a hit by pitch. Hunter Wicklund (Brainerd, Minn.) then laid a perfect bunt on the third base line and beat it out for an infield single. A strikeout and a wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position for Peyton Solberg (Bessemer, Mich.). With the infield drawn in Solberg snuck a ground ball single through the right side to break the scoreless tie. Kazdion Mount (Jay, Okla.) followed with an RBI single of his own.

That was all the run support Nelson needed, as the Jacks won 2-0.

Game 2 took awhile for the Jacks to punch through as well. Andrew Birko (Zellwood, Fla.) got the start in a scheduled split game. The transfer righty allowed one run on one hit and struck out one his two innings. Anthony Boyle (Celina, Texas) also allowed a run his two innings, while striking out a pair.

Trailing two runs in the top of the fourth Wicklund doubled down the left field line, just under the glove of the diving fielder. Two batters later Solberg Doubled to right center to get the Jacks on the board. After a scoreless bottom half of the inning Northland sent seven batters to the plate to deliver the big blow that put them in front. Zach Ross (Portland, Ore.) walked to leadoff the inning. With two outs the Warriors walked the bases loaded and brought in a reliever. Solberg hammered the first pitch to right center for a double to plate all three runs.

Mount came to relieve Boyle and pitched a scoreless fifth. Claudio Aguilar (Tulare, Calif.) came into pitch the final two innings. The sophomore righty pitched two scoreless without allowing a hit. He racked up three strikeouts in route to his first career save.

The LumberJacks will return to the diamond on Monday, March 27^th for their conference opener. The games, originally scheduled as a single game at UW-Superior, have been moved to Mauston, Wisconsin's Woodside Sports Complex. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 PM.

Northland College is an NCAA Division III institution located in Ashland, WI. The LumberJacks and LumberJills sponsor 14 varsity sports and compete in the Upper Midwest Athletic Conference, Midwest Lacrosse Conference and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.