Northwestern College lost a pair of close games to Midland in a conference doubleheader played this afternoon in Orange City, Iowa. The Red Raiders dropped game one 5-4 and lost the second 6-3. 

The Red Raiders held a 4-3 lead heading into the top of the seventh but Chris Foster hit a two-run single off Chase Davis (0-2) with two outs to take a one run lead. Northwestern came up empty in the home half of the seventh off Midland reliever Alex Bee, who picked up his third save. 

Alec Rickabaugh pitched solid six innings in picking up the no-decision for the Red Raiders. The freshman righty gave up nine hits and three runs while striking out five. 

Northwestern was led at the plate by Michael Callahan who hit a three-run home run in the third inning. Dustin Gaither extended his hit streak to 10  games with an RBI single in the fourth and Mark Primrose went 2-3 with a run scored. 

Dillon Cotner (2-1) picked up the win in relief for Midland, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings. Tanner Bos went 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and both Cole Gray and Foster had two hits. 

A late Northwestern rally came up short in its 6-3 game two loss. The Red Raiders fell behind early as Midland scored five runs off NW starter Tanner Ortlund (3-3) through four innings. The hosts broke through in the fifth, loading the bases on three straight singles by A.J. Nitzsche, Austin Zylstra and Colton Harold. Primrose and Matt Martin followed with RBI groundouts, getting Northwestern to within three, 5-2.

The Red Raiders added their final run on a solo home run by Martin in the eighth inning. Midland added to its lead with an unearned run in the top of the ninth to complete the scoring.

Ortlund gave up seven hits and four earned runs in 5.1 innings. Five NW relievers combined to give up just one hit and an unearned run over the final 3.2 innings.

Seven different Red Raiders had one hit, led by Martin with the solo home run. 

Kiefer Musiel (7-0) stayed unbeaten with eight innings of seven-hit ball, giving up three runs. Conlon McKenzie pitched a scoreless ninth for his sixth save.

Robert Cummins totaled three hits in game two, driving in two runs. Gray added two hits and Anthony Virgen went 1-4 with two runs.