Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois
Baseball Team Shut Down by Illinois, 5-0
3/31/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2000
EVANSTON, Ill. - Illinois took advantage of some mental mistakes by Northwestern in the sixth inning of Friday's game at Rocky Miller Park, scoring four runs despite just one hit en route to a 5-0 win. The game was the first in a four-game set between the teams this weekend.
After a leadoff double by D.J. Svihlik to lead off the fateful sixth, the Illini caught their first break when Andy Schutzenhofer struck out, but reached first on a freak play when the ball escaped Wildcat catcher Joe Hietpas. Before Hietpas could get to the ball, which lay right in front of him, Schutzenhofer's backswing cracked the junior catcher in the back of the head and knocked him flat, and Schutzenhofer reached first as Hietpas lay injured.
After Craig Marquie grounded out to shortstop and the `Cats intentionally walked Luke Simmons to load the bases, it looked like they might escape unscathed when Joe Parenti hit a potential double-play grounder to second baseman J.P. Williamson. The ball went through Williamson's legs, though, allowing two runs to score. The Illini tacked on two more -- one on a wild pitch by NU hurler Zach Schara -- before the inning came to an end.
Illinois also scored in the seventh when Svihlik tripled to bring home Brady Ballard from first.
Meanwhile, the Northwestern bats -- which had reached double figures in the hit column in eight of the last 10 games -- were silenced by Illinois pitcher Jason Anderson. The Illini hurler allowed just two Wildcat hits, none after the fourth inning. Among the batters shut down was junior shortstop Jeremy Kurella, who prior to today's game had hit in 21 straight games dating back to last season.
Schara was the hard-luck loser, as he allowed just six hits in seven innings on the hill. Ryan Bos and Jacob Briskman each pitched an inning of shutout ball in relief.
Northwestern and Illinois will hook up three more times this weekend, playing a doubleheader at Rocky Miller Park Saturday beginning at noon and a single game Sunday beginning at 1 p.m.
