HOUGHTON, NY— Nick Melchiore tossed a nine-inning complete game, two-hitter to defeat the University of Northwestern-St. Paul, 7-3, in the second game of the day for the Houghton Highlanders, salvaging a split after a loss in the opener to Wilkes University, 4-1.
 
GAME VITALS                           
Game 1 Score: Houghton – 1 | Wilkes – 4
Game 2 Score: Northwestern – 3 | Houghton – 7
Records: Wilkes: 3-4 | Houghton: 4-4 | Northwestern: 0-3
Venue: Bob Gladwin Stadium, Lawnwood Sports Complex | Attendance: 85/82
 
Game 1:
The Colonels plated two runs on three hits and a couple of physical miscues by the Highlanders in the first inning.  Those runs would prove all the offense Wilkes would need as the Colonels pitchers allowed only one walk and seven hits, quelling the Houghton offense.
 
Houghton drew within a run in the sixth when Zach Parr drove in Jeremy Newswanger, but the Highlanders made a crucial baserunning error and left the tying and go-ahead runs on base.
 
Wilkes scored two more insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning.
 
David Wessells picked up a pair of hits for the Highlanders, while Jason Kauffeldt belted a triple to the right-center wall.
 
Aaron Monroe pitched 2.1 scoreless innings in relief, as well, for Houghton.
 
Game 2:
After allowing an unearned run in the first, Melchiore settled in, throwing the most dominant performance of the year for the Highlanders.  The Houghton starter induced 13 ground outs and struck out nine, including the last five batters of the game.
 
Houghton picked up all the runs they would need in the bottom of the second, rapping out five base hits and playing a bit of small-ball to take a 4-1 lead.
 
Northwestern cut the lead in half in the fourth when a fielder's choice drove home a run.
 
The Eagles threatened again in the seventh, pulling within a run on another Houghton error, but with one out and a runner on third, Melchiore stymied the threat with a ground out and a fly out to keep the Highlanders in front.
 
Houghton finally picked up some breathing room in the bottom of the seventh on a run-scoring fielder's choice, and again in the eighth when Jeremy Newswanger laced a two-out single to right, plating Jared Couch.  The Highlanders scored their seventh run of the night when a Newswanger stolen base induced an errant throw from the catcher, scoring David Wessells from third.
 
The Highlanders rapped out 10 hits, including three by Newswanger and two more by Philips.
 
COACH'S CORNER:
"We learn a little more with every game.  There are still some things we need to clean up, but I was really pleased that we received quality pitching performances in both games, we played hard, never quit, and continue to compete.
 
"Nick [Melchiore] was outstanding today, and I was good to see us bounce back after a toss loss in the opener.
 
"We let a few opportunities slip away in both game, but we put a few on the board at the end to give ourselves some breathing room, which was good to see. 
 
"I'm looking forward to getting back to work tomorrow, and hopefully heading back to New York on a high note." –Coach Brian Reitnour
 
UP NEXT:
The Highlanders conclude their Spring trip tomorrow with a doubleheader against Delaware Valley at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.