Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Iowa *
Wildcats Win Series Opener 6-5 Over Iowa
4/29/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 29, 2005
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - Evan Blesoff pitched eight and one-third innings while Max Mann and Mark Ori each knocked in two runs as the Northwestern baseball team defeated Iowa 6-5 Friday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park. Blesoff upped his season record to 4-4. NU improves to 19-17 overall, 8-9 in the Big Ten, while Iowa falls to 18-20, 11-6.
The Hawkeyes came out swinging in the first inning as the leadoff hitter, Nate Price, tripled and eventually scored to take a 1-0 lead.
NU responded with three runs of its own in the bottom half of the first. First baseman Mark Ori (Niles, Ill./Maine South) plated two runs on his first triple of the season. Leadoff hitter Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) and shortstop Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) scored on the hit. Newman singled and Mikrut reached on an error. With Ori on third, left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) drove in his team high 33rd run of the season. Wycklendt singled to the Hawkeye shortstop deep in the hole.
Iowa got a run back in the top of the second as a one-out walk came around to score on a two-out single.
The Wildcat bats were silent until the bottom of the fifth, scoring three runs on three hits.
Freshman Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) delivered the big hit in the inning, lacing a one-out two-RBI bases-loaded single up the middle. Mikrut singled to leadoff the inning and was followed by Pat McMahon's (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) 13th double of the season. After a pop out, Wycklendt was intentionally walked to load the bases. Mann followed with his two-run single before Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) and Mike Phelps (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) walked. Mule's free pass loaded the bases for the second time in the inning and Phelps' walk scored Wycklendt, giving NU a 6-2 lead.
After giving up the run in the second inning, Wildcat starter Evan Blesoff (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) settled down. The senior gave up only one hit until the seventh inning.
Iowa plated a single run in the seventh on a two-out single. A leadoff single came around to score, making the score 6-3 in favor of Northwestern.
Blesoff pitched a season-high eight and one-third innings, before giving way to senior Chris Hayes (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest) in the ninth inning.
Even though Hayes gave up a two-run double, the right-hander buckled down to earn his seventh save of the season. Hayes' seven saves is the most by a Wildcat closer since Ryan Bos had eight in 1999.
Northwestern and Iowa continue their Big Ten series Saturday, with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
