Long Ball Lifts Baseball to Saturday Sweep

Baseball closed out their first day of two in Orange City, Iowa, against Northwestern on Saturday. The Tigers used the long ball to outdistance the Red Raiders, 13-4, to take the second game.

In the first inning, Sam Kwapnioski hit a two-run home run to put the Tigers in front. In the fourth inning, Brayden Jones delivered a two-run home run for a 4-0 lead. In the sixth inning, the Tigers broke the game open as Kwapnioski delivered his second home run of the game, this one coming with the bases loaded to double the score, 8-0. Later in the inning, Jordan Bond hit a two-run home run to put the Tigers up by 10 runs.

Northwestern was able to get three runs back in the bottom of the sixth inning on a three-run home run. Doane pushed their lead back to 10 runs in the eighth inning. Johnny Vulcano hit a two-run home run and Bond followed with a solo home run to put the Tigers up 13-3. Northwestern scored a run on a wild pitch in the bottom of the inning for the final tally.

Riley Plummer started on the mound and picked up the win as he went 6.0 innings, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk while striking out six. Raidyn Steele threw 2.0 innings, allowing one run on three walks and two strikeouts. Derek Mendoza threw the final inning, allowing one hit.

Doane had 12 hits in the game, led by Logan Amick as he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Kwapnioski was 2-for-5 with two home runs and six RBI. Bond was 2-for-4 with two runs and three RBI. Jones was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI.

The Tigers will take Easter Sunday off before resuming their series with the Red Raiders on Monday at 1 PM.