Mauston, WI - The MLC Knights baseball team played a doubleheader in Mauston, WI against the Northland Lumberjacks. The two teams were originally scheduled to play in New Ulm, but couldn't due to the weather. The Lumberjacks came out swinging and utilized their versatile lineup to edge the Knights in the pair of games, defeating MLC 25-6 in game one and 9-1 in the 4:30 p.m. contest.

Northland 25, MLC 6

The Lumberjacks would go up 10-2 after two innings of play and received production up and down the lineup. Northland drew seven walks from pitcher Zach Klement and were aggressive on the base pads, advancing runners into scoring position. MLC would get a solo shot from Sam Rodriguez in the bottom of the second inning, to get a little offensive jolt.

However, the top of the Lumberjacks' lineup continued to get on base and Northland posted a 5-run fifth inning to take a 17-3 lead. From there, Northland's bullpen continued to prevent any comeback attempts from the Knights and found the victory in game one.

The middle of the lineup showed up in game one, with Spencer Lilienthal, Mason Cox, and Sam Rodriguez each with two hits. Lilienthal also scored two runs and Rodriguez had a team-high (3) RBI.

Klement tossed 1.2 innings, allowing nine runs, on six hits.


Northland 9, MLC 1

In the second contest of the day, the two squads found themselves in a pitcher's duel in the early innings. Rodriguez was on the mound for MLC and was moving comfortably through the Lumberjacks' lineup, forcing them to pop the ball up in the air. The sophomore had given up two runs in the first inning, but held Northland in check the next few innings to keep his squad in the game (2-0) through four innings. 

The game would alter towards Northland in the top of the fifth inning, as the Lumberjacks solved the right-hander and knocked in three runs in the inning. Northland added on to that lead with another three runs in the top of the sixth inning, to separate from MLC (8-0). 

Rodriguez would add the only run of the game with a 2-out RBI single, scoring Cox, but it was "too little, too late," as the Lumberjacks put the game away with an impressive three innings of work from their relief pitcher, Anthony Boyle, who struck out five MLC batters in the final innings.

Rodriguez threw six innings, giving up eight runs on nine base-hits. 

Carter Seltz had a team-high (2) hits, while Rodriguez had the lone RBI.

MLC (3-8) will play a "home" game on the Bethany Vikings field, due to the MLC baseball field not being fully available yet. The two rivals sqaure off at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, April 12.