Courtesy of Adam Hussman/MLC SID

SUPERIOR, Wis. — The Martin Luther College baseball team kept up with UW-Superior in the first game of their 3-game series with the Yellowjackets on the road Wednesday evening. The Knights outhit UW-Superior 10-7, but would leave six runners on base as the Yellowjackets defeated MLC 5-2.

Carlos Walta was the starting pitcher for the Knights and gave up a season-low three runs (3 earned) on five hits in seven innings pitched. The junior also threw a season-best seven strikeouts on the mound for his best start of the season.

UW-Superior scored its first run in the bottom of the third and posted two more in the bottom of the fifth. MLC stayed near them only down 3-0 heading into the bottom of the eighth, but the Yellowjackets made it 5-0 following a sacrifice fly and an RBI double.

MLC made a bit of a push at a comeback and scored their two runs in the top of the ninth after Samuel Rodriguez drove in Parker Winghart and Walta on a two-run double to right center. From there, UW-Superior’s starter, Ben Welle, got the final two outs to finish off his complete game performance.

Stolen bases were a key component in the Yellowjackets’ five runs, as UW-Superior stole seven bases to put themselves in a good position.

The Knights had four players with two base hits (Winghart, Walta, Carter Seltz, and Mark Vogel), while Rodriguez led the team with two RBI.

MLC (5-10) will play Games 2 and 3 against UW-Superior at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Thursday.