Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio State *
Buckeyes Win Series Finale, 8-4
5/16/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 16, 2004
COLUMBUS, Ohio -
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Ohio State scored eight runs in the final three innings, defeating Northwestern 8-4 in the four-game series finale in Columbus, Ohio. The Wildcats plated three runs in the third inning and one in the ninth, but errors plagued the defense, committing four in the game. The loss drops NU to 23-26-1 overall, 12-16 in the Big Ten.
Unlike they had done in either of Saturday's doubleheader games, Northwestern jumped out to an early lead off OSU starter Jeffrey Carroll. Freshman Caleb Fields led off the inning with a sharp single to center, moving to second on Matt Brimmer's ninth sacrifice bunt of the season. After a fly out, shortstop Jon Mikrut laced his 10th double of the season to the right field wall. Fields scored from second on the play. NU didn't stop there, as Anthony Wycklendt hit a two-RBI bases loaded single through the left side. Wycklendt's two RBI gave him four for the series. The Wildcats loaded the bases on a walk and hit-by-pitch.
The Buckeyes answered the Northwestern top of the third inning, plating a single run in the bottom half. Buckeye Steve Caravati continued to terrorize Wildcat pitching, slapping his ninth hit of the series through the left side. Caravati's sixth RBI made the score 3-1 in favor of Northwestern after three complete innings.
NU threatened in the top of the fourth, as catcher Geoff Dietz was tagged out at home by OSU pitcher, Carroll, on an attempted safety squeeze play. Dietz led off the inning, moved to second on a passed ball and went to third on a Fields sacrifice bunt.
With one run in off two hits and an error, Ohio State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth inning. A routine fly ball to left field was misplayed, allowing one run to cross the plate, tying the game, and leaving the bases loaded with no outs. Head coach Paul Stevens called on Pohlman to stop the bleeding, moving him from his designated hitter's position to the mound. Pohlman struck out the first hitter faced then promptly gave up a two-RBI single. Following a walk to load the bases for the second time in the inning, designated hitter Adam Schneider hit a sacrifice fly to left field, plating the fifth and final run of the inning. In the inning, OSU had five hits, taking advantage of two Wildcat miscues and two base-on-balls.
The Buckeyes added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh inning, as a leadoff groundball to shortstop was misplayed. After Pohlman overthrew first base on an attempted pick-off attempt, a groundball to the right side moved the runner to third with one out. A two-out single to center plated the runner, giving Ohio State a 7-3 lead after seven complete innings.
OSU kept the pressure on, scoring a single run in the bottom of the eighth, as a two-out double scored the OSU run.
Junior Mike Phelps hit a one-out pinch-hit single in the top of the ninth, and came around to score on Josh Lieberman's single down the left field line. Brimmer walked before Lieberman's hit and went to third on Mikrut's single to center. Mikrut's second hit of the game loaded the bases with one out. A fly ball and a groundout ended the game.
NU is next in action when they host Northern Illinois at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston, 3 p.m., Tuesday afternoon. The nine-inning contest will be the final home game of the season.
