Pitching, defense leads DWU

Pitching and defense led the DWU baseball team to a 2-1 victory over the Alumni team Friday evening at Drake Field. The game featured some of the best players ever to wear a Tiger uniform. The Alumni team featured more than 22 players including at least two All-American players. At one time during the course of the scrimmage, the Alumni game had nine former GPAC All-Conference players in the line-up.

The game, however, was dominated by the DWU pitchers. They struck out 15 hitters in the 9-inning game and did not walk any. They gave up just five hits. Nick Pecha, Ethan Opsahl, Chris Housley, Zac Turbes, Logan Risse, Josh Wagner and Zac Custer all had strong outings on the mound.

DWU scored both of its runs in the first inning after Stephen Gunnel launched a two-run home run over the left field fence. Gunnel, a sophomore from Colorado, led the offense with two hits. Seven of the nine DWU starters earned at least one hit.

Gunnel, a third baseman, shortstop Michael Lukkason and centerfielder Erik Nockleby all made great defensive plays in the game. A total of two errors were made in the game by the two teams.

"It was a great game by both teams," DWU head coach Steve Gust said. "It was great to see so many alumni return for it. The pitching was great on both sides, and the defense was very good, too. It was just a great ball game that will help us as we prepare for the spring."