Late Power Surge Lifts Northwestern Past Minnesota, 8-3

4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

April 18, 2010

Site: Evanston, Ill. (Rocky Miller Park)
Score: Northwestern 8, Minnesota 3
Records: NU (12-22, 5-4 Big Ten), Minnesota (14-22, 4-5 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Wednesday, April 21 -- vs. Illinois State (Rocky Miller Park), 3 p.m.

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - Chris Lashmet's solo home run in the bottom of the seventh broke a 3-3 tie and Trevor Stevens' three-run shot in the eighth provided some important insurance as the Northwestern baseball team earned a series win over Minnesota with an 8-3 victory Sunday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park.

"I'm as confident with this group as I've been all year," Northwestern head coach Paul Stevens said. "I'm pleased with how the entire team is playing. There's a litany of guys who have gotten on the field and who have come through."

NU jumped on Minnesota starter Phil Isaksson for a run in the bottom of the first inning as Chad Noble singled with one away, Paul Snieder reached on an error and Lashmet followed with a run-scoring single to left to plate Noble from third.

The Wildcats' lead grew to 2-0 in the third. Noble started the frame with a perfectly placed bunt single down the third base line. The senior catcher advanced to third on Snieder's single to right and then scored on a single to left by Trevor Stevens.

Northwestern starting pitcher Joe Muraski allowed five baserunners through the first three frames, but was able to work his way out of trouble each time thanks in part to striking out two batters in each of the innings. However, the Golden Gophers were able to break through in the fourth inning as Matt Puhl tripled and Kyle Geason followed with an RBI single to cut NU's lead to 2-1.

The Wildcats got the run back in the home half of the sixth with a two-out rally. Chris Kontos was at first with two down when Arby Fields moved him to third with a single. Noble then came through with his third hit of the game, a single to left, that pushed Northwestern's advantage back to two.

Zach Morton, who relieved Muraski on the mound to start the sixth, stranded a pair of baserunners in the sixth but Nick O'Shea was able to connect for a two-out, two-run homer in the seventh to tie the game.

After hitting a game-winning, leadoff home run to break a 3-3 tie in the eighth inning of a win over Northern Illinois on Wednesday, Lashmet was up to his old tricks in the seventh inning on this day. The junior third baseman launched a no-doubter off Cullen Sexton to give NU the lead right back. Morton followed with a single and Geoff Rowan chased him home from third with a two-out hit to give the 'Cats a two-run cushion.

Snieder moved from first base to the mound to start the eighth and worked around a one-out hit to maintain the two-run lead. The Wildcats' first two batters in the bottom of the eighth were retired, but consecutive singles by Lashmet and Morton caused Minnesota to bring on closer Scott Matyas to try to end the threat. Trevor Stevens had other ideas, though, as the diminutive shortstop pulled a Matyas offering over the fence in right for a three-run shot and give the hosts a five-run edge.

The Gophers got a pair of singles in the ninth, but Snieder struck out the side to earn his sixth save of the season and give NU its second straight Big Ten series win.

Northwestern ripped four Minnesota pitchers for 19 hits, while three Wildcat pitchers combined to record 13 strikeouts. Eight different NU hitters notched multiple hits, paced by three apiece Lashmet, Morton and Noble.

Muraski allowed just one run and four hits while striking out seven over five innings of work. Morton was credited with the win after hurling two innings of relief.

The Wildcats return to action at 3 p.m. Wednesday when they host Illinois State at Rocky Miller Park.

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