Ryan Walks it Off, Haczynski Shines on Mound as PNW Baseball Sweeps Northwood Saturday
HAMMOND, Ind. — With the score tied 7-7 in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Hunter Ryan (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) hit a walk-off RBI single which scored junior Anthony Agne (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North) from second which gave PNW an 8-7 victory in game 1. Sophomore Brandon Haczynski (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point) tossed a complete game shutout in game 2 which allowed the Pride to win game 2, 6-0, as PNW swept Northwood in both games of a doubleheader at Dowling Park Saturday.
GAME 1: PNW 8, NU 7
Northwood jumped on the scoreboard first in the opening frame to go ahead 1-0.  PNW was able to respond with runs and get the lead in the bottom half of the inning.
​Freshman Ray Hilbrich (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) grounded out which scored junior Hunter Thorn (Portage, Ind./Portage) to tie it at 1-all. Couple batters later, sophomore Kevin McCune (Munster, Ind./Andrean) hit an RBI double to right center which scored Brett Veltema (Jenison, Mich./Jenison) to give PNW a 2-1 lead.
PNW added two more runs in the bottom of the second inning to give the Pride a 4-1 lead. Senior Austin Kordik (West Chicago, Ill./Community) ripped an RBI double down the left field line which scored Michael Woods (Elk Grove, Ill./Elk Grove) to make it 3-1. Thorn continued his big day at the plate with an RBI triple to left center to make it 4-1.
The Pride was not done scoring as Agne singled in Veltema to make it 5-1 in the bottom of the third. PNW added two huge insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to go ahead 7-1.
Thorn picked up his third hit of the day with an RBI single which scored Woods to make it 6-1. Ryan scored on a wild pitch which made the score 7-1.
Northwood hesitated to go away quietly in the first game as the Timberwolves answered right back to tie the score at 7 with six runs in the top of the seventh inning. After Agne walked, he advanced to second on a wild pitch, Ryan came up with two outs and had a ripped an RBI single that gave PNW the victory.
Starting pitcher sophomore Chad Patrick (Hebron, Ind./Hebron) took no-decision on the mound after throwing six innings, scattering eight hits, allowing three runs (all earned) and striking out eight. Senior Joe Davi (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) picked up the win (1-0) in relief after striking out the batter he faced.
GAME 2: PNW 6, NU 0
The second game was all PNW. Thorn put the Pride on the scoreboard after ripped a double down the left field line which scored Ryan to go ahead 1-0.
A couple of innings later, Thorn made it 2-0 with his RBI single to right field scoring sophomore John Cory (Lowell, Ind./Lowell) from second.  The Pride then erupted for four more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to give Haczynski some more breathing room.
Cory reached on an error which scored junior Ray Hansen (Chicago, Ill./St. Rita) to make it 3-0. Junior Nick Albanese (Algonquin, Ill./Marian Central Catholic) made it 4-0 with his single to left that scored Cory.
Hilbrich extended the lead to 5-0 after ripping a single right back up the middle scoring Albanese. Veltema gave PNW their sixth run of the game after roping an RBI single down the right-field line.
Haczynski threw his first complete-game shutout of the season (2-1), after going seven scoreless innings, allowing only four hits, did not issue any walks and struck out seven.
PNW (4-12, 2-1 GLIAC) and Northwood (14-7, 1-2 GLIAC) conclude their four-game opening Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference series tomorrow, March 24 starting at noon CT.​
