GEORGETOWN, Texas — Freshman Wyatt Kuhlow had a memorable collegiate debut, delivering a walk-off single with two outs in the bottom of the 12th inning to give the Southwestern baseball team a 7-6 victory over the North Park Vikings. 

Southwestern celebrated its seniors before the game, then gave the ball to senior ace Travis Harvey on the mound. Harvey, an All-Region pitcher last season, got into an early jam in the top of the second inning, surrendering a leadoff single to Justin Swanson. 

After striking out Brad Maurer, Harvey got ahead in the count on Bobby Bartlett. The junior from Winfield, Ill., was able to foul off multiple two-strike pitches before rocketing a shot up the middle to put runners on the corners with one out. 

Harvey responded by going right at the 6-foot-5, 205-pound Zach Lingk, making quick work of North Park's no. 7-hitter with a strikeout. Harvey followed that up by inducing a flyout to Maxwell Mims in shallow centerfield to escape the inning unscathed. 

North Park broke through in the top of the third, scoring two runs with two outs. Ranko Stevanovic put the Vikings on the board with a shot to the centerfield warning track for an RBI-double, scoring Carlos Martinez, who reached on a walk. Swanson followed with an RBI single through the left side before Harvey struck out Maurer to end the top half of the inning. 

Southwestern responded in the bottom of the inning on Mims's opposite-field shot to the right-field wall for an RBI triple, scoring Ted Lobkowicz. 

It was the first of two triples for Mims. The 2021 SCAC Newcomer of the Year opened the season where he left off, hitting 2-for-5 with two triples and three RBIs. 

Southwestern took advantage of two walks to start the bottom of the fourth, scoring both Landon Durdin on an RBI double to left-center by Trent Raschke to tie the game at 2-2, ending North Park starting pitcher Rick Sund's afternoon after three innings, five strikeouts, and two earned runs. Brendan Russ replaced him and retired the next three hitters, striking out two. 

Harvey allowed the first two North Park hitters to reach safely to start the fifth inning, walking Martinez and surrendering a single to Reece Arakaki. Then, Evan Peters laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance the runners into scoring position with one out. Next, Harvey walked Stevanovic to load the bases, and Swanson went down swinging, but Martinez scored on a passed ball to give North Park the lead back. 

Harvey ended his afternoon after five complete innings, striking out seven while surrendering three runs, two of which were earned, off six hits and three walks. 

Freshman Gregory Ferguson replaced Harvey to start the sixth inning and looked impressive in his first collegiate game, striking out the side in order. Ferguson retired the first two hitters to start the seventh before hitting Evan Peters and advancing him to second on a balk. The mistake proved costly when Stevanovic reached on an error, scoring Peters for an unearned run and a 4-2 North Park lead.

North Park added another run in the top of the ninth inning, taking advantage of a leadoff walk and sacrifice bunt to put Jim Zay on third. Zay scored on a passed ball for the 5-2 lead. 

Southwestern rallied to tie the game with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Mims came through in the clutch with his second opposite-field triple, scoring Lobkowicz and Raschke. North Park moved Peters to the mound from right field, and after allowing Mims to score on a wild pitch, Peters struck out Witt to get out of the inning.

Ryan Corbett took the mound for Ferguson to start the 10th inning, with the latter throwing four complete innings with six strikeouts, no hits allowed, and two unearned runs. 

Corbett walked Stevanovic to open the inning, struck out Swanson, then committed a throwing error to put two runners in scoring position. Bartlett followed with an RBI single on a bunt for a 6-5 lead. Then Silva lined to Durdin at third for the unassisted double play. 

With two outs and two on in the bottom of the 10th, Southwestern head baseball coach J.C. Bunch turned to Sam Castillo to pinch-hit for Christian Matthews. Castillo rewarded him with an RBI single to right field, scoring Jacob Tanner to tie the game. 

Kuhlow took over behind the plate, and both teams were retired in order in the 11th inning. North Park threatened in the top of the 12th inning with two on and one out, but Maurer grounded into a fielder's choice, getting the runner out on a force at second and beating out the failed attempt at a double play; but Peters tried to advance to home from second and was thrown out by Preston Witt to end the inning. 

Christian Melillo doubled to left-center to open the bottom of the 12th inning, and Harris walked, putting two on with no outs. Bragg replaced Peters on the mound and struck out the next two hitters, but Kuhlow came through in his first collegiate at-bat, hitting a shot to right field to score with the dugout emptying as Melillo rounded third, meeting him at the plate for a celebration. 

Corbett threw three innings with three strikeouts and one unearned run to pick up his first career win. The Southwestern pitching staff combined for 16 strikeouts, surrendering seven hits and two earned runs. 

Southwestern totaled 10 hits, with Lobkowicz and Mims each hitting 2-for-5. Lobkowicz scored two runs, and Mims had three RBIs with a run scored. Southwestern has won its first season opener since 2019. After its doubleheader against North Park, the Pirates will host the University of Texas at Dallas Comets on Tuesday,