NEW ULM, Minn. - The Martin Luther College baseball team won its weekend series against Northland College thanks to a split of Sunday's doubleheader. The Knights lost game one 15-10, but came back to win game two 17-11.

Northland 15, MLC 10

Northland roared back from an early deficit to win game one 15-10.

The Knights could not have asked for a better start as Spencer Lilienthal hit a two-run single in the first, and Zach Klement, Jonas Lindemann and Mason Cox each drove in runs in the second to take a 5-0 lead through two innings.

Northland would respond, however, scoring nine times in the next three innings and knocking MLC starting pitcher Jackson Lindemann from the game in the fourth frame.

The Knights added runs in the fifth and eighth innings, but Northland put the game away with a four-run seventh inning that featured back-to-back home runs.

Jackson Lindemann (0-3) took the loss on the mound after allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks and three hit batters. Lilienthal, Klement, Jonas Lindemann and Andrew Deisinger led MLC with two hits apiece.

MLC 17, Northland 11

The Knights overcame an early deficit to win game two 17-11 and win the weekend series 2-1.

Neither starting pitcher could find the strike zone early, as the two teams combined for seven runs on only two hits in the first inning.

After the Lumberjacks took a 6-4 lead in the top of the second inning, the Knights exploded for eight runs in the bottom half to take a 12-6 lead. The Knights sent 12 batters to the plate in the inning, recording six hits to go with two walks and one hit batter. Deisinger, Caleb Heckendorf, Reagan Moore, Jonas Lindemann and Cox each had run-scoring hits in the rally.

Michael Fromm (1-2) came into the game in relief in the third inning and settled the Knights on the defensive end with three straight scoreless innings to protect the MLC lead. Fromm earned the win as he pitched the final seven innings and allowed five runs (four earned) on nine hits while striking out three.

Northland was able to cut the MLC lead to 12-9 in the sixth inning, but RBI-hits from Heckendorf and Alex Ritter helped the Knights hold onto the lead through the late innings.  

Cox led the Knights at the plate, reaching base six times in six appearances thanks to three hits and three walks. Cox, Deisinger and Jonas Lindemann each scored three runs. Heckendorf led the team with three runs batted in.

MLC moved to 2-12 on the season and 2-2 in UMAC play with the split. Northland is now 1-10 overall and 1-2 in league play.

The Knights will return to action tomorrow (Monday, April 11) when they host Crown College for a game scheduled to start at 1:00 p.m.