Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan *
Wildcats Sweep Doubleheader; Win Game Two 4-2
4/1/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 1, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Northwestern's baseball team entered the day on a 12-game losing streak; they ended their day on a two-game win streak. Junior George Kontos pitched NU's second-consecutive complete game, allowing the Wildcats to improve their conference record to 2-1. Early scoring and stellar pitching and defense allowed NU to sweep the series.
Just like games one and two, Northwestern jumped out to an early lead against Michigan. Second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) led off the game with a single to right field and went to second on a sacrifice bunt. Owens scored from second when left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) singled through the left side, giving NU the early 1-0 lead.
Michigan answered with a run of its own after a leadoff double went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a muffed ground ball.
NU came right back with three more runs in the top of the second inning. Catcher Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) hit an RBI single, before shortstop Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) laced a two-RBI single into right field. Right fielder Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) scored on Dietz's single, while center fielder Stanley Finch (Lubbock, Texas/Cooper) and Dietz crossed home on Finn's hit. Both Mann and Finch singled in their at bats.
The Wolverines went down in order in the second inning, before scoring a single run in the third. A leadoff walk advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a double.
The Wolverines would not find the scoring column again.
Wildcat starter George Kontos (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) followed Dan Brauer's game-one example, throwing his first complete game of the season. Kontos scattered seven hits and struck out four, winning his first game of the season.
Kontos did put runners on in each of the final three innings, including a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning. But each time, Kontos was able to pitch his way out of trouble, giving the Wildcats their first two-game win streak of the season.
Offensively, Finch was the lone Wildcat with multiple hits, ending his day 2-for-3 with a run scored. Finn tallied two RBI for the first time in his collegiate career.
The Wildcats and Wolverines play the series finale tomorrow at 1 p.m. (EDT).
