Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Penn State *
Nittany Lions Win Game Two in Seventh Inning, 5-4
4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 2004
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STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Northwestern suffered its second heartbreaking loss of the day when Penn State catcher Matt Harter hit a two-out, two-strike, two-run home run over the left field fence in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving Penn State a 5-4 win and a Saturday doubleheader sweep of the Wildcats. PSU tallied three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning, dropping NU to 13-13-1 overall, 3-4 in the Big Ten.
For the first time in the series, NU took an early lead, plating a single run in the top of the first inning. One of NU's hottest hitters, Josh Lieberman, led off the game with a bunt single and moved to third on Mark Ori's eighth double of the season. With one out, left fielder Dan Pohlman hit a sacrifice fly to left field, scoring Lieberman for NU's first run of the game.
NU extended that lead to 2-0 in the top of the second inning, as Anthony Wycklendt's led off single and came around to score on a Penn State wild pitch. After his single, Wycklendt went to second base on Matt Brimmer's sacrifice bunt. It was Brimmer's fourth sac-bunt of the season. Two pitches later Wycklendt crossed the plate.
NU tacked on another run in the top of the third inning as shortstop Jon Mikrut hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to right field. Lieberman led off the inning with a walk and went to third on Ori's single up the middle. Right fielder Jason Krynski walked to load the bases, and after a strikeout, Mikrut flied out to right to score the run.
The Nittany Lions scored two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning with the help of a Northwestern error. With one run already in via sacrifice fly, a groundball to second base was misplayed, allowing the second run to score. There were two outs when the miscue took place.
The Wildcats took a 4-2 lead in the top of the seventh inning when Doug Beatty's lead off walk came around to score on Josh Lieberman's single to left field. Beatty moved to second on Caleb Fields' sacrifice bunt.
Wildcat starter, freshman George Kontos, pitched five-plus innings, giving up two runs, one earned, in the no decision. Kontos struggled with his control in the game, but lowered his overall ERA to 3.75 in 24.0 innings pitched.
Offensively, Mikrut hit his second triple in the game, as Lieberman went 2-for-3. In the two Saturday games, Lieberman went 6-for-9 with three runs scored and two RBI. At one point he had reached base safely six times, ending game one with four straight hits and singling and walking in his first two at-bats of the second game.
NU and PSU will play the series finale, tomorrow, at 1 p.m.
