Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Valparaiso
Eight-Run Second Inning Downs Crusaders, 13-7
4/6/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 6, 2004
Valparaiso Box Score in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern baseball team used a 14-hit attack to defeat Valparaiso University 13-7 Tuesday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston, Ill. A Wildcat eight-run second inning proved to be the Crusaders downfall, as they could not overcome the lead. Shortstop Jon Mikrut went 4-for-5 at the plate with five RBI to lead NU.
The Wildcats (12-11-1) jumped out early, scoring nine runs in the first two innings as Matt Brimmer hit an inside-the-park home run to straightaway center field in the first inning.
In the second inning, Anthony Wycklendt went 2-for-2 with a single and a two-run home run as NU totaled eight runs on seven hits, taking advantage of two Crusader miscues. Mark Ori had a two-RBI double in the inning as Mikrut, Chris Hayes and Jason Krynski all had RBI singles in the inning.
Valpo (4-17) did not stay down for long, putting together a six-run fourth inning. The Crusaders had three hits in the inning, taking advantage of two Wildcat miscues and three base-on-balls.
NU answered the Crusader call, scoring a single run in the bottom half of the inning. Mikrut doubled to left center field, scoring Wycklendt from first. Wycklendt singled in his at bat.
Neither team found the scoring column until the top of the seventh inning, when Valparaiso scored a single run.
With the score 10-7 Northwestern after seven and one-half innings, NU plated three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. Mikrut was the man again, this time tattooing a bases-loaded three-RBI triple to the wall in right field.
Senior Dan Konecny earned the win for Northwestern as the NU coaching staff implemented the 'pitch by committee' for the game. Konecny started on the hill, throwing three complete innings of no-run baseball. The Wisconsin native struck out seven of the nine outs he retired.
Senior Dan Pohlman played three different positions in the game, starting at catcher. The Barrington (Ill.) High School alum played four innings in center field and pitched one inning. On the mound, he gave up one hit and walked one.
Hayes, a junior from Lake Forest, Ill., started the game at second base, but was called on to pitch one inning and fill in for Mikrut at shortstop when he was called to the mound.
NU is next in action when it travels to Penn State to take on the Nittany Lions in a four-game conference series in State College, Pa. Game one is set for 3 p.m. (EDT) at Penn State's Beaver Field.
