Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Illinois *
Illinois Defeats Northwestern 21-4
5/6/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 6, 2005
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois scored seven runs in the first inning and nine more in the fourth, defeating Northwestern 21-4 Friday night at Illinois Field. Mark Ori and Jon Mikrut each hit home runs for the Wildcats. The loss drops NU to 21-20 overall, 10-11 in the Big Ten. Illinois improves to 28-14-1, 15-6.
For the second consecutive game, Northwestern gave up a big lead in the first inning, as Illinois scored seven runs on seven hits. NU fell behind 8-0 in a midweek contest against Northern Illinois.
The Illini batted around in the first inning, scoring four of the seven runs with two outs.
Illinois went right back at in the second, this time manufacturing a run on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. A one-out single came around to score.
Illini starter Brian Blomquist cruised through the first three innings, giving up only one hit.
Northwestern found the scoring column in the top of the fourth, using three straight singles to make the score 8-1 Illinois. First baseman Mark Ori (Niles, Ill/Maine South) led off with line-single to centerfield and went to third when catcher Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) laced a single to right. The very next pitch was lined to center by left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet), plating Ori. It was Wycklendt's 39th RBI of the season.
Any momentum NU started to feel was quickly erased in the bottom of the fourth inning. Illini put the game out of reach, scoring nine runs on four hits, batting around the order for the second time in the game. Northwestern starter Evan Blesoff (Oak Park, Ill./Oak Park River Forest) was lifted for sophomore Bobby Ferla (Waldwick, N.J./St. Joseph Regional). Four walks helped Illinois in the inning.
In the top of the sixth, Ori lined a 3-1 pitch over the left centerfield wall. His solo shot was his second of the season.
Just like they did when Northwestern scored a run in the fourth inning, Illinois responded with runs of their own. Illinois put up four runs in the inning, using a three-run home run as the big hit.
After seven complete innings, Illinois led 21-2.
In the top of the eighth, Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) hit a tape-measure home run down the left field line. Mikrut's two-run round-tripper was his third of the season. Centerfielder Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) hit a one-out single and scored on Mikrut's home run.
Northwestern and Illinois are back in action tomorrow, beginning a doubleheader at 4:05 p.m. Both games are seven-inning contests.
