Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois *
Wildcats Win Game Two, 4-2; Sweep Doubleheader
5/8/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 8, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern scored two runs in the first inning and two more in the fifth, defeating Illinois 4-2, and sweeping the Saturday doubleheader. The Wildcats scrounged out eight hits as Wildcat starting pitcher George Kontos allowed only five hits in five and one-third innings. NU improves to 21-22-1 overall, 10-13 in the Big Ten. Illinois falls to 19-27, 8-15.
Illinois came right out of the blocks, scoring a single run in the top of the first inning. Kontos walked the leadoff hitter, who quickly stole second. Following a fly ball to right field which advanced the runner to third, catcher Chris Robinson lined a single to right field, giving the Illini a 1-0 lead.
NU answered with two runs in the bottom half of the inning. Third baseman Josh Lieberman led off with a single to left field and moved to second on shortstop Jon Mikrut's bunt single. A fielder's choice advanced Lieberman to third, but forced Mikrut at second, leaving runners on first and third with one out. Catcher Dan Pohlman laced the first of two doubles in the game down the right field line, scoring Lieberman. First baseman Mark Ori, who reached on the fielder's choice, crossed the plate when right fielder Jason Krynski hit the first of two sacrifice flies he had in the game.
Both pitchers cruised until the fifth, when U-of-I tied the game at 2-2. Kontos gave up a two-out walk and two straight singles, plating the Illini run.
But like they did in the first inning, Northwestern answered with two runs in the bottom half, this time for the win.
In the inning, Lieberman hit a one-out single to left field and went to second on Mikrut's infield hit. Ori walked to load the bases, bringing up Pohlman. With two doubles under his belt already, Pohlman looped a single into left field, scoring Lieberman from third. Krynski then hit a towering sacrifice fly ball to deep right field, plating Mikrut.
In the sixth, Kontos opened the inning with a fly out, but gave a single and walked a batter; bringing head coach Paul Stevens to the mound. Stevens called on freshman Andrew Smith, who did what he was called upon to do, getting a fly ball and a line out to end the inning.
Smith did not allow a hit in one and two-third innings, earning the first save of his collegiate career.
Kontos struck out three, improving to 3-3 on the year.
NU and Illinois wrap up the four-game conference series with a single nine-inning contest, tomorrow, at 1 p.m. (CDT).
