Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Kansas State
Wildcats Win Season Opener Over Kansas State, 4-2
2/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 11, 2005
Final Stats
PHOENIX - Freshman outfielder Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) delivered a three-run triple in the bottom of the fourth inning, propelling Northwestern to a 4-2 Thursday night win over Kansas State. NU is in Phoenix, Ariz., taking part in a tournament hosted by the Oakland A's.
Senior right-hander Evan Blesoff (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest), starting just the third game in his career, pitched five complete innings, giving up one run on five hits. Blesoff struck out two in the game.
KSU found the scoring column first, plating one run in the top of the third as a leadoff single came around to score after a sacrifice bunt and another single.
NU would chase Kansas State starter Eric Rollins in the bottom of the fourth, plating four runs on five hits in the inning. Sophomore Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) led off with a single to right field and moved to third on Anthony Wycklendt's (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) double to deep right field. Mule's leadoff single was the first hit of his collegiate career, after missing last season with a leg injury.
Catcher Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) was hit by a pitch, loading the bases and setting up Mann's heroics. The California native tattooed a 3-1 pitch to deep left-center field, emptying the bases and giving NU a 3-1 lead. It was Mann's first collegiate hit.
Mann's classmate Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) used his first collegiate hit to drive in Mann, lining a 1-2 pitch into right field.
Blesoff went smoothly through the fifth, giving way to first-year player Dan Schwartz (New York, N.Y./Northern Valley Regional) to start sixth inning. The lefty pitched three scoreless innings, striking out three, including the first batter he faced as a Wildcat. Schwartz did not give up a hit, but walked one and balked twice.
In the ninth, senior Chris Hayes (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) earned the save, despite giving up one run on a hit-by-pitch and a single. Hayes struck out two in the inning.
The `Cats are next in action when they take on Missouri at 10 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 12.
