FORT PIERCE, Fla.---Tanner Halvorson threw a nine-inning two-hitter on Friday as the Bay College Norse blanked the Northwestern Minnesota Eagles, 3-0, in Fort Pierce, Fla. Halvorson's performance follows the no-hitter that he threw earlier in the week, and he struck out 16 batters for the seccond time.
The Norse got on the board in the first. After Carson Shea led off with a single, he came around to score on a Jared Crow single. A Ben Snyder base hit put runners on first and second, but Eagles' starter Noah Couwenhoven struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam."It felt great," Halvorson said. "The warm weather has been helping me out a lot. My arm was feeling really loose today, and I hads a great grouip of guys backing me up today, so I fekt really comfortable out on the mound."
Halvorson took a perfect game into the seventh inning, but a two-out flair to right field broke it up.After hitting the next batter, he settled in and struck out the final batter of the inning, leaving the runners on first and second.
He would allow just one more batter to reach when a ground ball found its way through the left side of the infield for a base hit in the eighth. He was incredibly efficient in the game, needing just 108 pitches to get through all nine innings.
Halvorson struck out 16 and walked no one, giving up only the two hits. "Tanner was dominant again," said Head Coach Mike Pankow. "Two starts in a row where he was on his game and really kept the opposing team off balance. Once again, he threw predominantly fast balls and was able to locate well. It was a fun performance to watch."
The performance by the Eau Claire, Wis., native came on the heels of Halvorson throwing Bay College's first-ever no-hitter earlier in the weeek.
"I really was just dominating with my fastball," Halvorson said. "I only threw my curveball a couple of times. I notcied that they were late with the fastball, so I just stuck with that."
Bay added to their total in the third. Back-to-back doubles by the Gladstone connection...Shea and Lucas Weinert... plated the first run, and Crow followed that with a single to bring in the third run.
From that point on the Eagles used multiple pitchers to scatter hits and keep the Bay offense off of the board.
Shea finished two for three with two runs scored. Crow was two for four, with two RBI.
The Norse head back north with a 4-8 record.
"Definitely ready to have a break right now," Halvorson smiled. "But it was a lot of fun. It was a good week. I'm glad we could come down here and spend the week with my guys."
The team was scheduled to play in Mauston, Wis., next weekend, but the NJCAA announced Friday afternoon that spring sports seasons will be delayed due to the coronavirus. The NJCAA statement follows:
"As we continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation as it impacts our member colleges, the NJCAA has made the decision to suspend all spring competition beginning Saturday, March 14 through Friday, April 3 along with the postponement of basketball championships until April 20.
"The NJCAA is also extending the hardship season completion ruling to 60% - should teams cancel their season before the limit is reached, student-athletes will not be charged a year of eligibility. For the 2020-21 season, the NJCAA is also increasing its allowable number of Letters of Intent which will be vetted by the Eligibility Committee. Our goal is to look after the safety and security of all involved, while also still providing a pathway to allow opportunities for our student-athletes and the ability to compete for a national championship."
"The NJCAA will continue to monitor and make adjustments as needed."
