Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Northern Illinois
Huskies Defeat 'Cats 8-6
5/4/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 4, 2006
GENEVA, Ill. - Northern Illinois scored three runs in the eighth inning to defeat Northwestern 8-6 Wednesday night at Elfstrom Stadium in Geneva, Ill. The Wildcats out-hit Northern 15-10, as Pat McMahon was 5-for-5 with an RBI. Second baseman Jake Owens had four hits and Antonio Mule and Caleb Fields each had two RBI. The loss drops NU to 17-25 on the season.
The Huskies opened the game with one unearned run in the top of the first inning off Wildcat starter Dan Schwartz (New York, N.Y./Northern Valley Regional). A leadoff single went to third on an errant pick-off attempt at first base and scored on an infield grounder.
Northwestern came right back scoring a pair of runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) led off with a single to right and quickly stole second. After moving to third on a Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) infield single between third base and shortstop, designated hitter Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) hit a sacrifice fly to left field. McMahon went to second on a ball back to the pitcher and was driven in by third baseman Caleb Fields (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick). Fields lined a single to right field for his 19th RBI of the season.
NIU came right back to score two more unearned runs in the top of the second inning to take a 3-2 lead. A fielding error and a throwing error aided a base-on-balls and a sacrifice bunt.
The Wildcats went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the second as Northern scored for the third-straight inning, this time off reliever Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood). After striking out he first batter he faced, Smith gave up three straight hits, allowing one run to score and give NIU a 4-2 lead.
NU squandered a scoring chance in the bottom of the third as a caught stealing and a runner thrown out over-running a base deleted three hits. Owens McMahon and Fields all tallied their second hits of the game in the inning.
Center fielder Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) launched a towering solo home run over the wall just left of straightaway centerfield. His third round-tripper of the season made the score 4-3 in favor of Northern Illinois.
Freshman Mike Folan (Arlington Heights, Ill./St. Viator) came on in relief of Smith to start the fifth inning. He gave up one run on a pair of hits, which included a one-out double.
Northwestern tied the game 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Mule RBI double off the left-field wall and a Fields bloop single over the Huskie second baseman. McMahon led off the fifth with a double off the centerfield wall and scored on Mule's hit. Mule scored after advancing to third on an Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) single through the left side of the infield.
Freshman Matt Havey (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola) came on in relief of Folan to start the sixth inning. The St. Viator High School graduate pitched two innings and did not give up a run or a hit.
Freshman Brian Morgan (Eden Prarie, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) started the eighth inning and lasted just one out before head coach Paul Stevens called on Eric Binder (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central) to close the door. Binder entered the game with runners on first and second with one out. The first hitter he faced grounded into a fielder's choice, leaving runners on first and third with two outs. The next two batters singled to scored three runs and give the Huskies an 8-5 lead.
McMahon drove in Owens in the bottom of the eight with his fifth hit of the game. Owens hit a two-out double to right centerfield and scored on McMahon's single to right field.
Senior Chris Davidson (Huntington Woods, Mich./Berkley) pitched a perfect ninth inning for Northwestern.
The Cats are next in action when they host Minnesota at Rocky Miller Park in a four-game series this weekend. Game one begins at 3 p.m. Friday afternoon.
