Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Winthrop
Northwestern Drops Nightcap to Winthrop, 8-4
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 19, 2010
ROCK HILL, S.C. - Chad Noble had three hits, including a homer, and Arby Fields went deep as well, but Northwestern couldn't overcome a five-run second inning by Winthrop as the Wildcats fell to the Eagles 8-4 Friday afternoon at the Bojangles Baseball Classic.
NU (0-2) jumped out to an early lead three batters into the game as Noble went yard off Winthrop starter Matteo D'Angelo.
Wildcat starter Joe Muraski sat the Eagles down in order in the first, but wasn't as fortunate in the second as the hosts scored five times on five hits.
Northwestern got one run back in the top of the third as Fields socked his first collegiate homer in just his second game to make it 5-2.
Winthrop got the run back in the fourth and then added two more in the fifth to increase its lead to six.
The Wildcats made a rally in the top of the eighth against reliever Tommy Lawrence to get back in the game. Chris Lashmet and Colby Everett contributed a pair of two-out RBI singles to make it a four-run game.
A walk by Geoff Rowan loaded the bases and forced the Eagles to make a pitching change, bringing in Greg Hough. Pinch-hitter Quentin Williams represented the tying run, but Hough got him to line out to right to end the threat.
Hough would work a perfect ninth inning to earn the save.
Northwestern returns to action at 4 p.m. Central time Saturday as it faces Marist.
