Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Baseball Steals Game One In Final At-Bat, 2-1
5/13/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 13, 2002
EVANSTON, Ill. - Playing the biggest doubleheader of the year, Northwestern opened up with a thrilling 2-1 Game One victory over the Wolverines of Michigan. With playoff implications riding on every game from now until the end of the season, NU found a way to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning for its 20th win of the year.
Michigan got things started in the top of the fifth inning as nine-hole hitter Jordan Cantalamessa dropped a 2-1 Ryan Bos (Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich) fastball over the left center field wall fence, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 lead.
Northwestern wouldn't get on the board until the bottom of the seventh as Wolverine starter Rich Hill started the inning with his first walk of the game. Designated hitter Jason Krynski (Niles, Ill./Niles West) was the recipient of the free pass and was replaced by pinch runner Matt Brimmer (Cedar Rapids, Iowa/Washington). Brimmer advanced to second when pinch-hitter Josh Lieberman's (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) was hit by a pitch. That's as far as Brimmer would get, getting thrown at third when catcher Ken Padgett's (Littleton, Colo./Arapahoe) bunt failed to advance the runners. With one out and runners on first and second, left fielder Dan Pohlman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) doubled down the right field line, scoring Lieberman and tying the score at 1-1.
With first base open, Michigan played the odds, intentionally walking shortstop Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel), to load the bases. The plan backfired as Hill walked third baseman Steve Haake (Belleville, Ill./Gibault) to end the game, giving NU the 2-1 win.
Bos was the player of the game for NU, picking up his fourth win of the season, pitching his team-leading fourth complete game. Bos lowered his ERA in Big Ten action to 2.34, a team low for starting pitchers. In his last two starts, Bos has given up just one run on six hits while striking out 11.
