Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Portland
NU Baseball Drops Third In a Row, 9-8
2/20/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern University baseball team mounted a furious ninth-inning rally, but fell just shy in its attempt to gain its first win of the season against the University of Portland at the Rawlings Spring Invitational in Phoenix. The final result was a 9-8 loss.
The Wildcats fell to 0-3, while the Pilots improved to 3-0.
Down, 9-4, heading into the bottom of the ninth, Northwestern scored four runs and looked to be in a prime position to win by loading the bases with just one out. However, Pilot reliever Brendan Wood coaxed a game-ending double play.
Northwestern drew first blood Saturday night, scoring twice in the second inning, before Portland took control with six runs over the next four frames. NU got one back in the bottom of the seventh, and each team scored once in the eighth before Portland tallied twice more in the ninth to set the stage for the Wildcats' final fireworks.
Jason Anderson had a big day offensively for the Wildcats, going 2-of-4 with 2 RBI and three runs scored. J.P. Williamson and Brandon Ackley also had a pair of hits for NU, while Bob Dainton scored a pair of runs.
Dan Padgett started on the mound, giving up six runs and eight hits in 5.2 innings and being pinned with the loss. Jacob Briskman and Ryan Bos came on in relief.
Northwestern will conclude play at the Rawlings Spring Invitational Sunday afternoon against the University of Washington.
