Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Wildcats Fall 14-7 to Michigan in Series Finale
4/1/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 1, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Joe Muraski (Rothschild, Wis./D.C. Everest) started right where he left off on Northwestern's spring trip, putting up zero's in the opposition's scoring column. Mother Nature had other ideas. After cruising through the first four innings, giving up no runs on just one hit, umpires suspended the game because of an unplayable field and rain.
After a two-hour and 10-minute rain delay, the two teams were called back onto the field to resume play. In a courageous effort, Muraski went back the pitching rubber to continue his work. Things did not go as planned.
In the Michigan fifth, the Wolverines scored five runs on five hits, including a pair of home runs. Muraski ended up pitching six and one-third innings in the game. He gave up eight runs on eight hits and struck out a career high six.
Sophomore Matt Havey (Wilmette, Ill./Loyola) relieved Muraski and did not far any better. Havey pitched one and two-third innings, giving up six runs on six hits. He struck out three.
Freshman David Jensen (Whittier, Calif./Mater Dei) pitched a scoreless ninth and struck out two.
In the bottom of the ninth, Northwestern finally found its hitting stroke. They unloaded for six runs on seven hits, including three home runs. Junior Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) went 2-for-2 in the inning with a solo blast, while senior Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) hit a broken bat, three-run homer. Sophomore Tony Vercelli (Wilmington, Ill./Wilmington) added a solo blast as well. Third baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) tallied his team-leading 17th RBI with a fielder's choice RBI groundout.
The loss drops Northwestern to 6-15 overall, 0-4 in the Big Ten. They are next in action when they host Chicago State at Rocky Miller Park at 3 p.m. on April 4.
