Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Minnesota
Wildcats Rip Minnesota 10-0 in Nightcap
4/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 13, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Chris Lashmet's third-inning grand slam proved to be the big blow as Northwestern earned a doubleheader split with Minnesota Sunday afternoon by rolling to a 10-0 win in the nightcap. Joe Muraski tossed his second complete-game shutout in six days, surrendering just two hits while striking out a career-high seven.
Minnesota (14-16, 4-6) took the first game of the day 7-4.
The Wildcats (9-15, 4-6) drew first blood in the bottom of the first as Aaron Newman started things off with a one-out triple to the gap in right-center. Jake Goebbert would bring him home one batter latter on a run-scoring groundout.
Northwestern added to its lead in a big way in the third thanks to its freshman third baseman. With one down, Newman singled and Goebbert and Mike Kalina followed with consecutive walks to load the bases. Despite a stiff wind blowing to right field all day, Lashmet was still able to rip a two-strike pitch through the teeth of the wind for a grand slam to left-center to put NU up 5-0.
The Wildcats' lead grew to six in the fourth as Jake Owens plated Tommy Finn from first with a triple to straight-away center.
The run support was more than enough for Muraski (3-3) who allowed a walk in the first and a single in the second before facing the minimum over the next four innings. His defense did the job behind him as well, turning a pair of double plays.
Muraski had pitched a five-hit shutout in five-plus innings of work Tuesday in a 13-0 win over Chicago State.
Northwestern tacked on four final unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth, thanks in part to three errors by the Gophers in the frame. Goebbert had the big hit in the inning, a three-run double to right to finish his day with four RBI.
Newman paced NU with two hits and three runs scored.
The teams continue their four-game series Monday with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. The first game will run seven innings, while the second contest will go nine.
