Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Baseball Falls to Minnesota at Big Ten Tourney, 8-4
5/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 19, 2000
EVANSTON, ILL. - The Northwestern baseball team fell in its Big Ten Tournament opener Tuesday afternoon, as the sixth-seeded Wildcats lost to top-seeded Minnesota, 8-4.
The loss put Northwestern in the loser's bracket, as they were forced to come back Thursday night against Ohio State.
On a gusty day at Siebert Field, the Gophers used the longball to gain the win. Northwestern starter Zach Schara had allowed only two home runs in nearly 100 innings entering Thursday, but surrendered four in 6.1 frames as Minnesota scored all eight of its runs on eight hits agianst him.
By contrast, UM's Mike Kobow -- like Schara a first team All-Big Ten hurler -- allowed nine Wildcat hits but just four runs.
The WIldcats drew first blood in the second inning. Wes Robinson and Brandon Ackley singled, but Robinson was thrown out at third on Ackley's single. Travis Tharp doubled one batter later to score Ackley. Minnesota came right back with two runs in the second and third, then a single run in the fourth.
Down, 5-1, Northwestern drew within a run with three in the fifth. With one out and two on, J.P. Williamson hit a ball to shortstop Rick Brosseau, who elected to throw out Jeremy Kurella at third base. Kurella beat the throw, while Kris Musselman scored on the play. Bob Dainton followed with a double to score Kurella and Williamson. NU went on to load the bases, but Ackley's rope was snared by Brosseau to end the rally.
Minnesota came righ back in the bottom half of the inning, as Luke Appert smacked his second home run of the day. In the seventh, Scott Welch knocked a home run to close out the scoring.
Ben Dodd replaced Schara after that, and retired all five batters he faced.
