Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Michigan
Jokisch, Wildcats Blank No. 17 Michigan 2-0
5/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 16, 2008
Box Score
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -
If diamonds are a girl's best friend, double plays are a pitcher's. Northwestern turned four twin-killings behind Eric Jokisch as the Wildcats became the first team this season to shut out No. 17 Michigan, doing so by a 2-0 margin Friday evening. Jokisch scattered five hits in the contest as NU kept its Big Ten tournament hopes alive.
The win was the eighth of the season for the southpaw, raising his school freshman record. Oregon State was the last team not to allow Michigan (41-12, 25-5 Big Ten) to score a run, doing so in last season's Super Regional. It is also the first time in 63 games that the Wolverines have been shut out at home. The last team to do it? Northwestern in a 5-0 win April 1, 2006.
The victory is the second for Northwestern (21-27, 14-17) over a ranked team this season, having defeated then-No. 21 Oklahoma State 14-12 in 10 innings March 1.
The Wildcats enter the final day of the Big Ten season tied with Indiana for the sixth and final spot in next week's Big Ten tournament. Since the Hoosiers would own a tiebreaker over NU if the teams end up tied in the standings, the 'Cats need a victory over Michigan plus have either Indiana lose at Michigan State or Ohio State lose at host Iowa to make the tournament.
Northwestern was the first team to score for the third time in as many games against the Wolverines. Tony Vercelli cracked his fifth home run of the season over the brick wall in left field with one out in the second to give NU a 1-0 lead.
The Wildcats increased their advantage to two runs in the third, settling for a solo tally. NU had the bases loaded with no one out, but the only run would cross when Mike Kalina brought home Tommy Finn with a fielder's choice groundout. A passed ball with two down moved a pair into scoring position, but the 'Cats continued to struggle to capitalize on opportunities as Eric Katzman got a strikeout to prevent further damage.
Jokisch was able to work out of a major jam in the bottom of the third to maintain Northwestern's two-run advantage. Consecutive singles to open the inning set the table for the top of the order. However, Jason Christian flew out to Aaron Newman in center and Alan Oaks was gunned down attempted to tag to second base on the play. A walk to Leif Mahler gave Michigan runners on the corners for the dangerous Nate Recknagel, but Jokisch got him to fly out to left to thwart the threat.
NU's freshman lefty continued to come up with the big pitch when he needed it in the bottom of the fifth. Following a leadoff walk, Jokisch induced Mike Dufek into a 1-6-3 twin-killing, the Wolverines' third in five innings.
A single by Leif Mahler to open the sixth inning for Michigan brought Recknagel to the plate as the tying run with no one out. But once again, Jokisch pulled a rabbit out of his hat and got the nation's leader in home runs to ground to Finn at short who started a 6-4-3 double play.
Michigan refused to go away, though, as it threatened one final time in the seventh. Jokisch got a strikeout to open the inning before Derek VanBuskirk singled and Kevin Cislo was hit by a pitch. However, Jokisch was able to bear down as he did all day, getting a popup to second and a flyout to right to seal the huge win.
Each team finished the contest with five hits. Jokisch (8-2) fanned four while working around four walks. Max Mann paced NU with two hits at the plate.
The teams close out the regular season Sunday with the conclusion of the four-game series. First pitch is set for noon Central time.
