Brainerd, Minn. - The Northland Community & Technical College baseball team split an MCAC Northern Division double header against Itasca Wednesday afternoon. Both games were played at Central Lakes College in Brainerd. 

The Pioneers struggled to get their offense going in a 13-3 loss in game one.  The Pioneers led briefly after plating a run in the top of the first, but the Vikings responded with four runs in the second and five in the fourth to take a 9-3 lead after three innings were in the books. David Morales, Cade Marquardt, and Jackson Bonneville each had RBIs in the five-run third for the Vikings.

Alex McBride got the win for Itasca after allowing three runs on six hits over five innings, striking out four and walking one.
Carter Anderson took the loss for the NCTC Pioneers. The righty allowed seven hits and nine runs over two and two-thirds innings, striking out four.

Abel Rodriguez, Ivan Tavarez, Gannon Kempert, Freddy Landman, Jakob Walton, and Javier Perez each managed one hit to lead Pioneers.

tasca Community College totaled 12 hits in the game.  Bonneville, Marquardt, and Kalib Colon each collected multiple hits for the Vikings.

Game two was dominated by Northland from start to finish. The Pioneers knocked in six runs in the first on their way to a 9-2 victory over the Vikings.  David Perez, Meltavis Robertson, Marcos Salazar, Aaron Bruggeman and Gannon Kempert powered the big inning with RBIs.

Augustin Sanchez took the win for NCTC Pioneers. The lefty lasted seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits, while striking out one and walking one.

Lefty Sam Peterson started the game for Itasca Community College and took the loss. He lasted just one inning, and allowed six runs, two of which were earned, on two hits

Right hander Logan Jackson came on in relief for the Vikings and surrendered three runs on three hits over four and a third innings, striking out two.

Abel Rodriguez went 2-for-3 at the plate to lead NCTC Pioneers in hits. 

With the two-game split, the Pioneers' record stands at 6-12. Up next is a double header vs. Rainy River in Aurora at 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and a double header against Vermillion in Ely with games at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. 
 

Game One

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Northland	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0
Itasca	0	4	5	2	2	0	0	0	X	13	16	0

                            Game Two

Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Itasca	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	6	5
Northland	6	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	X	9	0	0