Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wildcats Drop Opener to Minnesota 7-4
4/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2008
EVANSTON, Ill. -
A three-run eighth inning helped Minnesota extend its lead to four runs as it held off Northwestern 7-4 in the opening game of a doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park.
Minnesota (14-15, 4-5) got on the board first in the top of the first inning as Matt Nohelty drew a leadoff walk against Bo Schultz, stole second and came around to score on a two-out hit to right by Jeff DeSmidt.
The Golden Gophers added to their lead with three runs in the fourth to go ahead 4-0. With one down, consecutive singles by Derek McCallum and Mike Kvasnicka and a walk walk to Kyle Knudson loaded the bases. Jon Hummel drove in one run with a sacrifice fly before Matt Nohelty brought home a pair with a single to center.
Just when it looked like Minnesota had all of the momentum, Northwestern (8-15, 3-6) rallied to get the three runs right back in its half of the fourth despite collecting only one hit. Jake Goebbert walked to open the inning and Mike Kalina was then hit by a pitch. Following a strikeout, two more hit batters by Gopher starter Tom Buske accounted for NU's first run. Chad Noble brought home the second run with an infield single before Tommy Finn added a sac fly to make it 4-3.
Both pitchers settled in over the next three innings, though, as each team was held scoreless. However, Minnesota cashed in with three big insurance runs in the top of the eighth as DeSmidt had a run-scoring single and Kvasnicka hit a two-run homer to increase the Gophers' advantage to 7-3.
The Wildcats put themselves in prime position to get those runs back in the bottom half of the eighth as it loaded the bases with no one out against Buske. However, Cullen Sexton came on in relief and was able to limit Northwestern to one run.
The 'Cats got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but Sexton was able to get Kalina to fly out to deep center field to preserve the victory for the Gophers.
Minnesota finished with a 10-7 advantage in the hit column. Kalina paced NU with a pair of hits. Buske (4-3) got the win for the Gophers, while Sexton picked up his second save of the season. Schultz (3-4) took the loss for the Wildcats.
The teams are scheduled to play the second game of the doubleheader at approximately 3:15 p.m.
