NEW ULM, Minn. – The Northland College Baseball team wins big, 22-6, against Martin Luther College in Upper Midwest Athletic Conference action Friday evening in New Ulm, Minn. The LumberJacks scored in seven innings to score their most runs in a game this season.
The 22 runs scored were the most for Northland since the 2023 season, when they scored 25 against Martin Luther on April 10.
The LumberJacks got out to a quick start with an impressive first inning. Northland loaded the bases after
Jonjay Arreazola and
Nathan Davison drew walks and
Tyler Murphy singled to right field. Another walk would push the first run across by
Caden Willis.
Peyton Solberg would have a two-run single, adding on.
Jay Harris followed with the first extra-base hit, scoring another. Northland would finish the inning up 6-0 as an error and a sac fly would score the final two runs.
Andrew Birko retired the three batters he saw for a quick one-two-three opening inning.
Northland would tack on its seventh run by a sac fly from Willis, scoring Murphy, who reached via error. The Knights would score two, chipping away at the lead. With the bases loaded, Birko would get a ground ball to get out of the inning.
The first three LumberJacks all reached base in the third with
Ethan Boyce getting hit by a pitch and
Dezmon LeTexier and
Ridge Guyette singling. Arreazola would hit into a double play, but one run would score, and an error increased the Jacks' lead to 9-2 after the third.
In the fourth, NC would reach double figures as Solberg led off with a single to center field. The reigning UMAC Player of the Week would reach third after a ground out and passed ball. Boyce would hit a deep ball to right field to score Solberg. LeTexier had his second hit of the game with a single, and Guyette scored him after he doubled to right field. Birko would toss another scoreless inning to have Northland up 11-2 after four.
In the fifth, Northland increased its lead to 10 after a bases-loaded walk drawn by Arreazola. Birko had his third one-two-three inning in the bottom of the fifth.
The scoring continued for the Jacks into the sixth inning. Guyette and Murphy were on the corners with one out, and a double steal scored another for NC. Willis doubled, and Solberg singled to extend the lead to 13 after the top of the sixth. Martin Luther scored two runs in the bottom half.
The seventh inning would be the only inning in which the Jacks would not score a run. The Knights would add another two runs on a two-out, two-run home run.
Grant Vessey would enter the game and pitch for the Jacks. The freshman retired the sole batter he faced in the seventh.
In the eighth, Northland loaded the bases on free passes before its first out. Solberg recorded his fourth RBI with a sac fly. Harris and
Anthony Boyle each got hit by a pitch, scoring another run for the Jacks. LeTexier drew another bases-loaded walk to keep them full for Guyette. The senior would go deep for a grand slam to increase the lead to 16. Vessey would pitch a scoreless eighth for Northland to win 22-6.
The LumberJacks matched their season-high of 18 hits in a game. Everyone in the starting lineup recorded a hit, with Guyette leading with four.
Andy Linder entered the game late and recorded a base knock for 10 different student-athletes to have a hit. Solberg had three hits, and Harris, Murphy, and Davison all tallied a pair. Guyette had his fourth home run of the season, coming as a grand slam for all four of his RBIs. Solberg matched him, batting in four runs.
On the mound, Birko threw a season-high 6.2 innings. The senior earned his first win of the season and struck out two batters. Vessey had the final inning and a third and did not give up a run.
The LumberJacks and Knights wrap up the season tomorrow (Saturday) with the doubleheader scheduled for noon.
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 and the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
