Tuscon, Ariz. - 

The Northland baseball team saw its first action of the 2023 season during a spring break trip to Arizona last week. The Pioneers played 10 games over a six-day span from March 4-9. 

In addition to being the first official action of the year for the Pioneers, the trip to Arizona was also the team's first time playing or practicing outdoors since fall practices ended. The Pioneers lost five of their first six games but improved throughout the week and finished the trip by winning three of their last four contests. 

The Pioneers opened the trip on Saturday, March 4 with losses to Miles College, 5-4, and Dakota Wesleyan University, 9-5. On day two, the Pioneers dropped games to Riverland Community College, 13-3, and Miles College, 11-3.

The Pioneers picked up their first win of the season on Monday, March 6, defeating the Dakota Wesleyan University JV 12-7, before falling to the Malone University JV team by an 11-3 score in game two. 

Following a scheduled off day, the Pioneers were back in action Wednesday, March 8 and they got their offense going with a pair of wins. The Pioneers dominated Minnesota West Community & Technical College 15-5 in game one and they outlasted Bethany College JV 12-7  in game two. 

The Pioneers wrapped up the trip on Thursday, March 9 by doubling up Malone University JV 12-6 in game one, before coming up a run short in a 5-4 game two loss to the University of Fraser Valley.