Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Chicago State
Wildcats Beat the Rain, Chicago State 13-0
4/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 8, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Jake Goebbert hit a pair of home runs and Nate Roberts and Jake Owens hit one apiece as Northwestern cruised to a 13-0 win over Chicago State Tuesday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park. The contest was called one batter into the sixth inning due to rain and lightning.
The Wildcats improve to 8-14 overall, while the the Cougars fall to 3-26.
After NU stranded baserunners in scoring position in each of the first two innings, it finally got to Chicago State starter Josh Appelbaum for five runs in the top of the third.
Kenneth Avila opened the inning with a single, stole second and then scored on an RBI triple by Owens. Following a run-scoring groundout by Aaron Newman, Goebbert deposited his first round-tripper of the day off the scoreboard in right-center to make it 3-0. Chris Lashmet then drew a walk before Roberts got all of a massive tape-measure blast that went well onto the roof of McGaw Hall in right field for a two-run shot.
With one down in the bottom of the fourth, Owens left the yard with an opposite-field dinger to right for the third home run of his career. Two batters later, Goebbert connected for his second home of the game deep to right-center despite breaking his bat.
Northwestern completed the scoring in the fifth, with the first eight battters reaching base in a six-run inning. Mike Kalina, who returned to the lineup after missing the previous six games due to injury, started things off with a triple. After a walk, Max Mann singled home Kalina to put the 'Cats ahead 8-0. Avila then contributed his third hit of the day before Owens drove in two with a single up the middle. Pinch-hitters Rob Campbell and Jake Wilson would bring home the final three runs with hits of their own to complete the scoring.
Following a basehit by Chris Goya to open the top of the sixth, a lightning strike and ensuing rain forced the cancelation of the remainder of the contest.
The Wildcats finished with a commanding 17-5 edge in the hit column, led by three hits apiece by Avila and Owens, who also drove in four runs. Joe Muraski (2-3) got the shutout win, striking out four while not walking a batter.
Northwestern returns to action at 3 p.m. Friday when it opens a four-game home series with Minnesota.
