Northwood High's baseball coach Rob Stuart calls Timberwolves' pitcher Kevin Okuda a special player.

Okuda showed why Tuesday.

During Tuesday's Pacific Coast League game at University, Okuda limited the Trojans to one run over five innings as the Timberwolves (6-2, 12-6) squeezed out a 2-1 victory to remain in second place in league.

The Trojans (4-4, 8-10-1) took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and had an opportunity to score more runs but Okuda (4-2) retired the 3-4-5 hitters on ground balls to foil the rally.

The Trojans couldn't muster any more runs the rest of the game.

"He (Kevin) does subtle things every game," said Stuart. "He bears down and has no fear. Today, he held them (University) to one run in the first (instead of two or three) after they got their first two runners on base."

"It's a great morale win," added Okuda. "I was throwing strikes and my defense played super."

Okuda pitched out of a jam in the second when he retired Will Faure and Jordan Scheftz with two on and one out. He only allowed one hit over the next three innings and earned the win.

Jack Pabich pitched the sixth and seventh innings to earn the save.

Northwood took advantage of two Trojans' base running miscues in the late innings to turn back University scoring threats.

In the third inning, Northwood tied the score at, 1-1. Steevie Feeko singled and scored on Ojo Weiss' triple to right. On the play, Feeko and University catcher Ronnie Crocco collided at home plate as Feeko scored on a close play.

Crocco dislocated his knee on the play and left the game and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, said Uni Coach Chris Conlin.

"He's the heart of our team," said Conlin. "You hate to see something like that happen. Ron is really well-liked and respected by his teammates."

Austin VonBlasingame ripped an RBI single scoring Matt Locklear in the fourth inning for Northwood that turned out to be the difference in the game.

Trojans pitcher Taketo Kai pitched the entire game and struck out seven and did not walk a batter. Kai (4-1) struck out the side in the second inning and retired the final 10 Timberwolves' batters.

Kai Ho had two hits and a RBI for University.