Box Score (Game 1)
Box Score (Game 2)

VERONA, Wis. – With four losses in their last five games, the Edgewood College baseball team needed someone to rescue them. Glenn Nowell was just the man for the job. The freshman pitcher from Boulder, Colorado fired a complete game 2-1 victory over Aurora University to salvage a split in their key Northern Athletics Conference doubleheader. The Eagles lost game one to the Spartans 7-2.

Nowell scattered six hits and worked out of a few jams to earn his second victory of the season, beating Spartan ace Steve Salazar who matched Nowell nearly pitch-for-pitch. Edgewood College scored an unearned run in the first when Alex Berta singles home Cory McCullick from second base.

Aurora threatened to take the lead in the fourth when they loaded the bases with nobody out. Nowell hit Kevin Fitzgerald with a pitch to drive in one run, but also induce three ground balls to third baseman Seth Astroth. Astroth turned the first two into force outs at home plate and the last one a traditional force out at first base to allow the Eagles to escape tied at one.

Astroth was also a key component of the Eagles' winning run in the sixth. Berta doubled and reached third base with one out. On an 0-2 pitch, Astroth narrowly checked his swing on a Salazar delivery and survived an appeal to the base umpire. On the next pitch, Astroth laced a single to left field to score Berta for the 2-1 lead.

Later it was Nowell who finished off the ninth inning with the tying run in scoring position. Aurora's Bobby Wilson stood at second base with one out when Nowell faced the heart of the Spartans' order in Tony Wellner and Kirk Williamson. Nowell, who had just one strikeout to that point in the game, mustered up his best stuff, striking out both Wellner and Williamson to seal the victory.

Dan Gugel had three hits in the game, while Berta had two hits including a double. McCullick swiped the 68th base of his career moving him just one away of Karl Reynolds all-time school record of 69.

In the opener, Aurora scored a pair of runs in all three middle innings to open a 6-1 lead. Wellner had the big blow with a two-run blast to the opposite field in the fifth. Tim Barry had two hits including an RBI double in the third inning.

Berta and Gugel also had two hits, while Justin Dahmen added one hit a bases loaded RBI walk in the ninth. Berta also added two stolen bases. Scott Winters took the loss for the Eagles going five and two-thirds innings and striking out six. Chris Koudelka got the win for the Spartans improving his season record to 4-0.

Edgewood College (19-10, 10-4 NAC) is home the next two consecutive days. The Eagles host UW-Platteville in a single game on Thursday at 5:00 p.m. before a crucial NAC doubleheader showdown with Concordia University Chicago at 4:00 p.m. on Friday. Friday's game can be heard live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.