Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Massachusetts
Massachusetts Sneaks Past Wildcats, 4-3
2/27/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2009
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -
Northwestern was unable to take full advantage of four Massachusetts errors as the Minutemen pushed across a run in the top of the eighth inning to defeat the Wildcats 4-3 Friday at the RussMatt Central Florida Invite.
The two teams will meet again at 10:30 a.m. Central time Saturday.
Sophomore Eric Jokisch got the start for NU (1-4) and went the first 6 2/3 innings, surrendering three runs while striking out a pair.
UMass (1-0) jumped out to the lead in the top of the second as Sam Boone connected for a two-run homer. The Wildcats got a run back in their half of the fifth as Chad Noble drew a walk and advanced to second when pinch-hitter Jim Grieco also drew a free pass. Noble would later come around to score on an error to get Northwestern within 2-1.
After the Minutemen extended their advantage to 3-1 in the seventh thanks to four hits, NU rallied to tie the game in its half of the frame. Pinch-hitter Chris Kontos opened the inning with a single and Noble reached on an error to give the Wildcats two on with no one out. Kontos was forced out at third on a bunt, but the ensuing throwing error allowed runners to advance to second and third. Noble came in to score on a ball hit by Trevor Stevens to get Northwestern within one before Kenneth Avila tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
However, UMass was able to push across the winning run in the eighth. Mike Donato opened the inning with a double, moved up to third on a sacrifice bunt and later scored on a sac fly by Matt Gedman.
Northwestern got a leadoff walk from Jake Goebbert in the bottom of the eighth and singles by both Grieco and Avila in the ninth, but was unable to push across the run it needed, including leaving the tying run at third to end the game.
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