MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The Wartburg baseball squad opened its 2020 campaign indoors at U.S. Bank Stadium with a doubleheader versus Bethel University through the early hours of Monday, Feb. 24, earning a sweep over the Royals with 8-0 and 6-1 victories. 

Through two games, Parker Ridge and JoJo McNair led the Knights with four hits each, including six runs batted in from Ridge which was paced by a three-run homer in game one. 

Dylan Gotto highlighted Wartburg's performance during the 8-0 game one win, pitching a complete game seven-inning shutout with a Wartburg single-game record 16 strikeouts while surrendering just one base on balls and two hits. 

Ridge, Bryce Butler, and McNair each tallied two hits, led by five RBI from Ridge. He opened the scoring in the third inning with his three-run home run over the fence in left center. 

In game two, the Orange & Black downed the Royals 6-1 on eight hits. Wartburg scored the eventual game-winning runs in the first inning, both unearned. 

The pitching trio of Darren Kilpatrick, Manny Jeffery, and Tony Rex limited Bethel to six hits and one earned run. Kilpatrick earned the win, making the start and going four innings while conceding three hits. 

McNair and Ridge totaled a pair of hits for the second game in a row, including two doubles for McNair in the leadoff spot. 

Up Next
Wartburg, now 2-0 overall, heads to Florida for its annual spring break trip, set for eight games March 1-7.