Northwestern College split a doubleheader against LSU-Alexandria for the second straight day in its season opening weekend played in Joplin, Mo. Northwestern rallied for a 6-5 win in game one and then lost game two 15-4 in seven innings. 

Trailing 5-2, Northwestern scored four in the top of the sixth inning to go ahead for good. Five consecutive Red Raiders reached base to start the inning, including three straight singles by Joe Done, A.J. Nitzschke and David Rowley. Still down one, Zylstra tied the game with a sacrifice fly, scoring pinch runner Mark Primrose from third. Reed Smith followed with a go-ahead RBI single, scoring Nitzschke. 

Isaac Horigan picked up the win for the Red Raiders, giving up nine hits and five runs in six innings. The senior walked two and struck out two. Zylstra earned his second save with a scoreless seventh inning, giving up one hit and one walk. 

Both teams totaled 10 hits as Northwestern was led by Smith, Nitzschke, Rowley and Christian Stekl with two hits each. Nitzschke belted his second home run in as many days, hitting a solo shot in the fourth. 

Spencer Noel picked up the loss for the Generals, giving up two runs without recording an out. Trey Caswell went 2-for-4 and Brady Fryou went 2-for-2 with an RBI to lead LSU-Alexandria at the plate. 

Northwestern fell behind 4-0 and never led in its 15-4 game two loss. Tanner Ortlund took the loss, giving up eight hits and seven runs in 3.1 innings. Four relievers combined to pitch the final 2.2 innings and gave up a combined eight hits and eight runs. 

The Red Raiders totaled just four hits in game two, one each for Smith, Nitzschke, Stekl and Colton Harold. Harold had a two-run double in the seventh inning for his first collegiate hit. 

Northwestern will play a four-game set against Missouri Valley next weekend in Marshall, Mo.