Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
UNI
Wildcats Drop Nightcap to Northern Iowa, 2-1
3/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 21, 2008
BRADENTON, Fla. -
Freshman Eric Jokisch tossed a two-hitter, but his offense wasn't able to back him up enough as Northwestern dropped the second game of a doubleheader to Northern Iowa 2-1 Friday afternoon. The Panthers also took the first game 6-0.
The Wildcats (4-7) had good opportunities to get on the board first in the top of the first and third innings as they had runners on third base with only one out in both frames, but were unable to push across a run either time.
UNI scored both of its runs in the bottom of the third as Deric Manrique had an RBI single and Chris Lopez walked to force in another run. The Panthers had the bases loaded with one out, but Jokisch retired the next two batters to prevent any further damage.
Northwestern had a runner on second with nobody out in the fourth but again was unable to capitalize before the Wildcats finally tallied in bizarre fashion during the fifth.
With Aaron Newman on first with one away, Jake Owens hit a deep fly ball that got over the head of Lopez in right. Newman went two-thirds of the way to second base to make sure the ball wasn't going to be caught, and by the time it dropped Owens was right on his tail.
Both runners raced around the bases, practically connected to one another, and were waved around to the plate. The relay throw home was in time to nab Newman, but Owens was able to score right behind him to put the Wildcats on the board. Jake Goebbert followed with a double, but NU was unable to push across the tying run.
Jokisch (1-1) sat down the final nine batters he faced, but Northwestern couldn't rally to get him off the hook. The left-hander struck out three in the contest. Guido Fonseca (4-0) fanned eight to get the win for the Panthers.
Newman led the Wildcats with two hits.
Northwestern attempts to bounce back Saturday as it faces Kansas in a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. Central time.
.png&width=84&height=84&quality=100&type=webp)
