Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Cal State Northridge
Northwestern Falls to Cal State Northridge, 11-8
3/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 6, 2005
Box Score
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Cal State Northridge jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after one inning Sunday afternoon and never looked back, beating Northwestern 11-8 at Matador Field. The Wildcats made it interesting, scoring five runs in the top of the ninth inning, but it proved too little, too late. NU falls to 4-6 on the season.
Already trailing 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Northwestern finally found the scoring column, plating a single run on two hits. Catcher Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) led off the inning with a single to right, but was thrown out at second on freshman Max Mann's (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) fielder's choice groundball to third. Left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) laced a two-out double to the left centerfield, scoring Mann from first. It was Wycklendt's fourth double of the season.
Northridge responded in a big way, scoring five more unearned runs, taking advantage of two Wildcat errors in the inning.
Wildcat starter Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood) was the recipient of the unearned runs. He gave up a total of 10 runs on the day, only one earned. Smith repeatedly gave NU a chance to end innings, only to see his pitch count rise following all the errors. He pitched four and one-third innings, giving up eight hits and striking out three. He did walk one in the game.
NU scored two more runs in the sixth inning, as shortstop Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) hit his first home run of the season to deep centerfield. McMahon, who had doubled to lead off the inning, scored on Mikrut's long ball. Mikrut's home run was the 18th of his career, tying him for 10th on NU's career home run list with Jason Krynski ('04), Dan Pohlman ('04) and Sloan Smith ('93).
Senior Evan Blesoff (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) relieved Smith with one out in the fifth, giving up one run on seven hits and striking out three. It was Blesoff's fourth appearance of the season, which includes two starts.
Trailing 11-3 in their last at-bat in the ninth inning, the first five Wildcats that came to the plate, scored. Mann hit a deep line drive to centerfield, which was misplayed by the CSUN centerfielder. Wycklendt then singled, advancing Mann to third. Pinch-hitter Stanley Finch (Lubbock, Texas/Cooper) followed with a single through the left side, scoring Mann and leaving runners on first and second with no outs. Freshman second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli), who had experienced some defensive collegiate growing pains earlier in the game, laced a two-run triple to the right centerfield wall. Wycklendt and Finch scored on the hit and an errant throw from the Matador cut-off man allowed Owens to run the final 90-feet for the fourth run of the inning. Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi), who was a defensive replacement back in the sixth inning, hit his first collegiate home run, pulling a full-count fastball over the right field fence. Mule's long ball pulled NU to 11-8, forcing a CSUN pitching change.
The pitching change worked for the Matadors, as the CSUN closer induced two ground balls and struck out one to end the game.
McMahon continued to swing a hot bat, going 3-for-4 in the contest. He leads the team with a .444 batting average in eight starts. In the three games against Cal State Northridge, McMahon hit .462 ((6-for-13) with two home runs and a double.
Finch scored two runs and tallied an RBI, also hitting safely in three of his four at-bats. Finch is second on the team with a .423 average. Wycklendt was 2-for-3 with an RBI and run scored. Mikrut ended the game 2-for-5 with two RBI.
The Wildcats are next in action when they travel to Bradenton, Fla., for its spring break trip March 19-26. NU is scheduled to play six games in eight days, beginning with St. Francis (N.Y.) on March 19. Game time vs. St. Francis is set for 2 p.m.
SPRING BREAK SCHEDULE IN BRANDENTON, Fla.March 19 St. Francis (N.Y.) 2 p.m. March 20 Cornell Noon March 21 Kent State 2 p.m. March 22 Off March 23 Off March 24 Dartmouth 2 p.m. March 25 Cornell 9:30 a.m. March 26 Dartmouth 10 a.m.
All times are central
