Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Ohio State *
Buckeyes Down Wildcats, 7-2
5/13/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 13, 2005
EVANSTON, Ill. - Evan Blesoff set down 18 in a row and 21 of the last 22 Ohio State batters he faced Friday afternoon, but it was too little too late, as Northwestern lost 7-2. The Buckeyes used a six-run first inning, which propelled them to the win. Antonio Mule hit a solo home run and Pat McMahon had two hits for the Wildcats.
Ohio State did not hit a ball hard in the first inning, but managed four infield singles on their way to a six-run first inning. OSU batted around in the inning, sending 12 hitters to the plate. The first six Buckeyes crossed the plate, five of the six reached via base hit.
Designated hitter Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) hit a solo home run in the bottom of the second. Mule's third round-tripper of the season made the score 6-1 in favor of OSU.
OSU extended their lead to 7-1, when they manufactured a run in the top of the third inning. A sacrifice fly scored a leadoff single, which moved to third on a single and sacrifice bunt.
NU got a run back in the bottom of the third when Mark Ori (Niles, Ill./Maine South) knocked an RBI single to left field. Centerfielder Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) scored on the hit. Newman reached on a fielder's choice and went to second on McMahon's second hit of the ball game.
In the top of the fourth inning Newman robbed Paul Farinacci of a solo home run. It was the second time this season Newman has robbed a Wildcat opponent of a home run.
After OSU scored its run in the top of the third inning, Wildcat starter Evan Blesoff (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) found a groove and rode it for his first complete game of the season.
After a third inning no out single, Blesoff retired 18 straight Buckeyes and 21 of the last 22. Only a one-out ninth-inning walk reached base. It was Blesoff's first nine-inning complete game of his career. He struck out a season high six Buckeyes.
The only problem with Blesoff sending the Buckeyes down in order every inning, the OSU hurler did the same. After the third inning, only two Wildcat runners reached base, both on an error.
The Wildcats and Buckeyes are back in action tomorrow. Game one of the Saturday doubleheader is set to begin a 1:05 p.m.
NOTES: Catcher Pat McMahon extended his hit streak to 12 games with a first-inning single. McMahon's longest hit streak of 2005 is 17 games. He has hit safely in 29 of NU's last 30 games.
