Photo gallery by Niko Duffy '13 

NORTHFIELD, Minn. – Behind a pair of strong pitching performances, the Carleton College baseball team (7-11) completed a doubleheader sweep of visiting North Central University (4-11). Danny Shields (Fy./Richfield, Minn/ Holy Angels) went the distance in the opener as the Knights prevailed, 7-2. Kiyota Gomi (Jr./Dobbs Ferry, N.Y./Ardsley) tossed 5.2 scoreless frames of relief as Carleton came out on top, 5-1.

Shields, making his first collegiate start, permitted two runs in the top of the first, but then faced just three batters over the minimum and allowed only one hit over his last six innings of work.

Carleton tied the score on Grant Bowen’s (Sr./Duxbury, Mass./Duxbury) two-run double in the bottom of the first, and the Knights pushed across five runs in the third inning to put the game out of reach.

The hosts accumulated only five hits but drew 10 walks in the contest. Alex Wirta (Jr./Corte Madera, Calif./Redwood) was 3-for-3 in game one and reached base in his first seven plate appearances on the afternoon.

In game two, Michael Holter (Fy./Centennial, Colo./Valor Christian School) got the starting nod but was lifted in the second stanza due to an apparent arm injury. Gomi took over and kept the Rams in check, as he eventually notched the second victory of his career.

“I’m really pleased with the pitching performances today by Shields and Gomi,” said Carleton Head Coach Aaron Rushing. “They got on a roll, pounded the strike zone, and let the defense make plays behind them.”

The Knights turned four pretty double plays on the afternoon and gunned down two other runners at the plate.

Carleton returns to conference action on Saturday, April 9 as the Knights travel to St. Paul, Minn. to face Hamline University at 1:00 p.m.