RIVER FALLS, WI – The Bay College Norse Baseball Team (11-11, 3-5 MCCAA) split a doubleheader to start off a non-conference road trip on Thursday. Minnesota Post Grad tossed a no-hitter in game one, winning the game 1-0 before the Norse offense led them to a 13-5 victory in the nightcap.

Louis Hertling (Anoka, MN) was the story of game one, walking just two and striking out 13 while keeping the Norse hitless in the game. His only spot of trouble came in the top of the seventh when he walked a batter with one out. With two outs a swinging strike three would reach and a misplay on the throw allowed the tying run to advance to third. Hertling slammed the door on the comeback when he fielded a comebacker and flipped to first to end the game.

Post Grad’s lone run came in the first. After a lead off single from Sam Nienow (Cottage Grove, MN), Owen Hackett (Centennial, MN) lifted a pop fly in the infield. Unfortunately for the Norse none of the infielders could converge on it before it fell harmlessly to the ground. John Cromwell (Rapids City, SD) made Bay pay for the hit, driving a two-out RBI single to center.

Thijs Rijpstra (FR, Dongen, Netherlands) was the recipient of no run support, as he was extremely effective on the mound but will be handed a loss for his efforts. He threw six innings, scattered five hits, gave up one run, walked just two, and struck out seven.

Nienow and Hackett each had multi-hit games for MN Post Grad.

The Norse offense woke up in the second game. After a leadoff walk in the second inning, George Cooper (FR, Eltham, Australia) doubled down the left field line to tie the game at one. He scored on Jace Cota’s sacrifice fly a few batters later. Tyler Darmogray (FR, Gladstone, MI) doubled home a run, and after getting another RBI on an error, Josh Blake (SO, Seffner, FL) drove in a pair on a single to right field, putting the Norse up 6-1.

Minnesota Post Grad took advantage of a bases loaded, no out situation in the third. It played four runs with the big blow coming from Hackett, a two-RBI single to left.

Bay wasted little time responding. Blake doubled to drive in a pair in the top of the fourth. He wound up scoring on Cooper’s two out single.

The Norse put the game away in the fifth. With two outs Darmogray singled to start things. After stealing second he was driven in by Lorenzo Feliciano (FR, Deerfield Beach, FL). Not to be outdone, Zach Gibson (FR, Nassau, Bahamas) doubled down the left field line for an RBI, putting Bay up 11-4. The Norse added insurance runs in the seventh, highlighted by an RBI double from Blake.

Huge games from Darmogray and Blake sparked the big run output. Darmogray was four for five from the leadoff spot, driving in one and scoring twice. Blake picked up three hits in five at bats, two of those hits being doubles. He added five RBI.

Chase Carlson (SO, Foster City, MI) also had big contributions, going three for four with a triple. Feliciano and Cooper each had a pair of hits.

Hunter Ballantyne (FR, Brantford, ON) got the win on the mound. He pitched five innings and gave up five hits, four earned runs, three walks, and struck out seven. Austin Samanske (FR, Eagle River, WI) gave up a run and struck out three in two innings of relief work.

Bay will wrap up the trip with a visit to Viterbo University. They will see Viterbo’s Developmental Team at 1 pm, followed by a game with Western Tech at 3 pm.