Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Iowa
Northwestern Cruises to 13-6 Win in Opening Game
4/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 20, 2008
IOWA CITY, Iowa -
Chris Lashmet drove in a career-high five runs as Northwestern scored all 13 of its runs in the third through fifth innings as it cruised past Iowa for a 13-6 win in the opening game of a doubleheader at Duane Banks Field Sunday afternoon.
The Wildcats (12-17, 7-8) took a two games-to-one lead in the series after the squads split Saturday's twinbill.
Iowa (14-20, 5-10) got on the board first against Eric Jokisch with a solo tally in the first. Kevin Hoef started the inning with a single, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and a single and scored on a wild pitch.
Northwestern got things going against Tony Manville in the top of the third as it put up three runs to take the lead. Tommy Finn led off by pulling a home run to right for his second round-tripper of the year. The Wildcats had runners at the corners with nobody out when Mike Kalina was able to beat out a slow roller down the third base line that scored Jake Owens from third. Manville's throw to first on the play was errant, allowing a pair of runners to advance into scoring position. Nate Roberts would eventually plate the third run on a two-out single to right-center.
NU broke the game wide open with six unearned runs in the fourth inning to surge ahead 9-1. With one away, Finn was able to reach on an error by second baseman Zach McCool. The Wildcats had runners on the corners when Newman plated Finn from third with a single to left. Northwestern had the bases loaded with two outs when Lashmet continued his big weekend by cashing in with a clutch two-run single back up the box against reliever Steve Turnbull to make it 6-1.
Roberts chipped in with an RBI double to left before two final runs scored when first baseman Wes Freie dropped a popup on the infield.
After Iowa got one run back in their half of the fourth, the onslaught continued in the fifth with four more runs by the Wildcats against George Rasiarmos. NU had no one on and two outs when Newman drew a walk. Jake Goebbert followed with a double down the first base line that glanced off of Freie's glove with Newman racing all the way around to score. Kalina followed with a walk before Lashmet deposited an offering that went over the scoreboard in left-center that is located behind the 375-foot marker.
Facing a 13-2 deficit, Iowa was able to get the four runs back in the bottom of the fifth as Northwestern committed a pair of errors on pickoff attempts. However, Matt Havey was able to come on and toss two scoreless innings to wrap things up, dropping his conference-low ERA to 0.87.
Lashmet and Roberts paced the Wildcats with two hits apiece. Iowa actually finished with a 12-11 advantage in the hit column paced by three by Hoef.
Jokisch improved to 4-2 with the win, surrendering four earned runs in his five innings pitched. Manville (0-1) was responsible for seven of the runs allowed, through only three were earned.
The teams were scheduled to begin their nine-inning series finale at approximately 4:15 p.m.
