Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Connecticut
Baseball Wins Again, 3-1
2/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Spurred by another sterling pitching performance from sophomore Gabe Ribas -- his second in two outings this season -- the Northwestern baseball team completed a 3-0 weekend at the Ralston Purina Baseball Challenge. The Wildcats defeated the University of Connecticut, 3-1, to go unbeaten in the event hosted by the University of North Carolina-Wilmington.
Northwestern has now won four in a row since starting the season 0-3, and in each of the wins the pitching was the story. Ribas, who improved to 2-0 with the win, snapped a three-game string of complete games by Wildcat pitchers by relinquishing the ball to Dan Padgett after six innings.
The winning runs came in the fourth inning, when freshman Frank Favia snapped a 1-1 tie when he roped a two-run single with the bases loaded. Favia also figured in the first run an inning earlier, as he singled to lead off the third and came across thanks to singles by Jeremy Kurella and J.P. Williamson.
Favia, Kurella and Williamson all finished the day with two hits apiece as the Wildcats had eight hits for the game. On the mound, Ribas went six inning and allowed seven hits. Padgett went the last three innings without giving up a hit, striking out five of the nine batters he faced.
Northwestern will play next weekend at the Aces' Diamond Classic at the University of Evansville. The Wildcats will meet Iowa Friday morning, then Butler Saturday and host Evansville on Sunday.
