The Tiger baseball team was finally able to open the Spring 2010 schedule on Saturday after two consecutive weeks of postponed games. The opener did not go in the Tigers favor as they fell to Northwestern College in a non-conference meeting, 8-4. The Red Raiders jumped out to an early 4-0 lead through two innings before Doane battled back to tie the game. The first run of the season for the Tigers came in the third inning. Mike Albert led off and reached on an error by the shortstop. Luke Henderson moved him to third base with a single. Anthony Hincy grounded out to second but it was enough to score Albert.
In the fourth inning, Jason West led off with a double and stole third base. Josh Reed singled to plate West but a double play followed and limited the Tigers from a potential big inning.
The Tigers tied the game in the fifth inning following a one-out walk issued to Henderson. Hincy tripled to plate pinch runner Dylan Flott. Blake Snow then reached on an error by the second basemen and Hincy scored on the play. West singled but Snow was thrown out at the plate trying to score on the play.
Northwestern retook the lead in the bottom of the inning and added three insurance runs in the sixth.
Evan Koetter started the game for the Tigers and threw four innings in picking up a no-decision. He allowed four runs, two earned, while striking out five. Jake Bartek took the loss, allowing one run in one inning and striking out one. Frankie Patino threw one inning, allowing three unearned runs, on two hits and striking out two.
At the plate, three Tigers finished with two hits as Doane posted nine in the game. Henderson went 2-for-2 while West and Reed were 2-for-3 at the plate. Hincy led the Tigers with two RBIs. Snow and Reed posted RBIs as well.