Northwestern dropped a pair of one-run games to Midland tonight in a GPAC double-header played in Fremont, Neb. The Red Raiers, now 5-11 in the GPAC and 14-21 overall, lost 5-4 in game one and suffered a 6-5, extra-inning loss in game two.
With Northwestern leading by three (5-2) and one out away from a win in game two, Midland scored three runs, all with two outs, on four hits to send the game into extra innings. Anthony Virgen began the rally with a two-out single off NW starter Isaac Horigan and advanced to second following a single by Cole Gray. Horigan then hit Robert Cummins with a pitch, to load the bases. Chris Foster hit an infield single, scoring Virgen, and Alex Bee hit a two-run single, tying the game at five.
Still tied in the bottom of the ninth, Virgen led off with a solo home run to left field off Zach Rosson (0-1) for the walkoff win.
Horigan picked up the hard-luck no-decision, limiting the potent Midland line-up to nine hits and five runs. The senior walked two and struck out eight.
Michael Callahan led the Red Raiders at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI while both Joe Done and A.J. Nitzschke had two hits. Matt Martin added one hit, a solo home run to lead off the sixth inning.
Bee (1-0) pitched two innings of scoreless relief to pick up his first win of the season. Gray paced the Warriors' 10-hit attack with three hits in four plate appearances.
Down 5-1 in game one, Northwestern rallied with a three-run sixth inning and had the tying run at third base but fell short in its comeback bid.
Callahan and Done hit RBI singles in the sixth and Reed Smith belted an RBI double, advancing Done to third before Dustin Gaither flied out to deep centerfield to end the inning.
Northwestern outhit Midland 9-5, led by Callahan who went 2-for-4 with a run and RBI. Seven different Red Raiders had one hit while Smith, Done and Zach Rosson had RBIs.
Raphael DeHoyos (2-5) picked up the loss, giving up five hits and three earned runs in six innings.
Daylon Owens picked up his third win of the season, giving up seven hits and four runs in 5.1 innings. Conlon McKenzie earned his fifth save, giving up two hits in the final 1.2 innings
