HAMMOND, Ind. — Parkside split a high-scoring doubleheader with Purdue Northwest on Saturday, dropping the opener before erupting for a 23-run performance to take Game 2. The Rangers totaled 30 runs on the day, highlighted by a late push in Game 1 and a dominant, hit-filled effort in the nightcap.
Game 1
Parkside struck first in the opening inning. After
Dylan Sayles was hit by a pitch,
Josh Wicker delivered an RBI double to left center to give the Rangers an early 1-0 lead. Purdue Northwest answered immediately in the bottom half, capitalizing on a Parkside error before Drew Kosteba tied the game with an RBI double and Zach Wright followed with an RBI triple to make it 2-1.
The Rangers regained momentum in the second inning.
John St. Clair doubled to set the table, and
Max Johnson launched a two-run homer to give Parkside a 3-2 lead. Later in the inning,
Benjamin Loyd scored on a pickoff sequence, extending the advantage to 4-2.
Purdue Northwest responded with a big third inning, plating multiple runs to reclaim the lead. The Pride continued to apply pressure, building a 9-4 advantage through five innings.
Parkside chipped away late in the game. The Rangers scored in the sixth and seventh innings to close the gap, but ultimately couldn't complete the comeback, finishing with seven runs on 13 hits.
Offensively, Parkside was led by
Max Johnson's two-run home run, while
Josh Wicker and
Joe Mrowiec each contributed doubles.
Benjamin Loyd added multiple hits and scored key runs as part of a balanced attack.
On the mound,
Keegan Waters got the start, allowing four runs over 1.2 innings.
Carson Klaus took the loss after surrendering five runs across 3.0 innings of work.
Isaiah Terrell provided relief, tossing 1.1 scoreless innings to keep Parkside within striking distance.
Game 2
The Rangers wasted no time, scoring five runs in the first inning.
Benjamin Loyd drove in the opening run with a double before
Dylan Sayles followed with an RBI single.
Joe Mrowiec added a two-run home run, and
John Wubben capped the inning with a solo shot to make it 5-0.
Purdue Northwest answered with three runs in the bottom half, highlighted by RBI hits from Billy Chidsey and Nathan Koster.
Parkside continued its offensive surge in the second inning, plating six runs to extend the lead to 11-3.
Josh Wicker and Wubben each drove in runs with singles before
Noah Goddard delivered a three-run double.
Max Johnson added an RBI double to cap the inning.
The Pride responded with two runs in the second on a Drew Kosteba double, but Parkside added two more in the third on an RBI groundout from Wicker and an RBI single by Wubben to make it 13-5.
Purdue Northwest pulled within striking distance in the fourth, scoring five runs. Chidsey drove in a run with a groundout, while Zach Wright and Koster each delivered run-scoring doubles. Braylon Holland added an RBI groundout to cut the deficit to 13-10.
Parkside answered again in the fifth. Wubben singled home a run, and Johnson followed with a two-run single to push the lead to 16-10.
After a scoreless sixth, the Rangers broke the game open further in the seventh. Johnson hit a three-run home run, scoring Wubben and Goddard to extend the lead to 19-10.
Purdue Northwest added two runs in the seventh on a two-run double by Chidsey, but Parkside responded with four runs in the eighth. A wild pitch brought in a run before Goddard delivered a three-run double to make it 23-12.
The Pride added a run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Joey Guiliano, but could get no closer.
Austin Grube (3-0) earned the win in relief for Parkside, while Preston Burton (3-2) took the loss for Purdue Northwest.
Michael Merline started for the Rangers, allowing seven runs, six earned, over three innings.
Mateo Fuentes provided two scoreless innings out of the bullpen.
Parkside finished with 24 hits, led by Wubben, who went 4 for 4 with five runs scored, four RBIs and a home run. Goddard added three hits and six RBIs, while Johnson drove in six runs, including a home run. Mrowiec also homered in the win.
Up Next
The Rangers are back in action tomorrow, April 19, as they close out the series against Purdue Northwest, with first pitch at 1:00 PM at Historic Simmons Field.
For all things Parkside Baseball and links to live coverage, visit
ParksideRangers.com/coverage .
