Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois *
Phelps Powers 'Cats to 6-2 Win Over Illinois
5/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 9, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Junior Mike Phelps hit a one-out opposite field three-run home run in the second inning, propelling Northwestern to a 6-2 win over Illinois Sunday afternoon. Phelps had an RBI single later in the game, as the Wildcats improve to 22-22-1 overall, 11-13 in the Big Ten. Illinois falls to 19-28, 8-16.
Phelps' long ball in the bottom of the second inning came after Illinois starter Jimmy Conroy was lifted from the game for undisclosed reasons. Emanuel Bishop took over pitching duties for the Illini, giving up five runs in one-plus innings of work.
Senior Jason Krynski led off the second inning with a walk and moved to second on Anthony Wycklendt's single to left field. Krynski was cut down at third on an attempted sacrifice bunt, leaving runners at first and second with one out for Phelps. Phelps hit a 2-1 pitch over the left field wall, plating three runs, for his second home run of the season.
The Illini answered with a single run in the top of the third inning, as a leadoff single by Vince DiMaria crossed the plate on a double play groundball to Jon Mikrut at shortstop. DiMaria advanced to third on another single, before scoring on the 6-4-3 double play.
The Wildcats answered Illinois' run with two of its own, as first baseman Mark Ori led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Catcher Dan Pohlman was issued a base-on-balls as he and Ori advanced 90-feet on a wild pitch. With runners on second and third and no outs, Illinois made their second pitching change of the game. Krynski then hit a sharp groundball to second base, which was misplayed, letting Ori score and leaving runners on first and second with no outs. Pohlman advanced to third on a groundball double play, setting up center fielder Matt Brimmer with two outs. Brimmer delivered, lining a single to right field for his 14th RBI of the season.
Illini reliever Andy Sigerich, who took the mound in the third inning, pitched the rest of the game, allowing just one run in six complete innings. He gave up seven hits.
Following a 40-minute rain delay in the middle of the fifth inning, NU scored that lone run off Sigerich in the bottom of the sixth. Brimmer hit a hustling one-out double to right field to get things started. He later crossed the plate on Phelps' single to right field. It was his fourth RBI of the game, a career high.
Sophomore Dan Brauer started on the mound for NU, pitching seven complete innings for the win. The left-hander gave up one run and struck out six, improving to 5-4 on the season. Brauer now has a career pitching record of 10-7. His six Ks gives him 86 in 77.1 innings pitched this year.
Sophomore Julio Siberio relieved Brauer to start the eighth, giving up one run on a balk. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Siberio hit a batter and gave up a single putting runners on first and third with two outs. After the runner on first stole second, Siberio was called for the balk, making the score 6-2 in favor of Northwestern. Siberio got a pop out to end the inning. Siberio hit his second batter of the game to start the ninth; prompting Wildcat head coach Paul Stevens to call on Mikrut to close out the game. After giving up a single, Mikrut induced two pop outs and groundball to end the game.
Offensively for the Wildcats, Phelps went 3-for-4 with four RBI. Ori raised his season average to .380, finishing the day 3-for-3 with a triple and two doubles. He was also walked. Leadoff man Lieberman, singled in his first three at-bats of the day, finished 3-for-5. Brimmer was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Wycklendt was 2-for-4 with a runs scored.
In all, the Wildcats pounded out 13 hits, raising its season average to .303 in 45 games.
The 'Cats are next in action when they travel to downtown Chicago, taking on intrastate rival Illinois-Chicago. Game time is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday evening at UIC's Les Miller Field (1,000).
