Northwestern Drops Season Opener to Utah Valley, 3-0

2/18/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Feb. 18, 2011

Box Score

Site: Lubbock, Texas (Dan Law Field)
Score: Utah Valley 3, Northwestern 0
Records: NU (0-1), Utah Valley (1-0)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Feb. 19 -- vs. Western Michigan (Lubbock, Texas), 11 a.m.

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Chris Lashmet and Trevor Stevens collected two hits apiece, but Northwestern was unable to push a run across as it dropped its season-opener to Utah Valley 3-0 in the first game of the Red Raider Classic.

Francis Brooke suffered the tough-luck loss, surrendering just two runs (one earned) over six innings of work. He scattered seven hits and allowed one walk while striking out four.

The Wildcats stranded baserunners in scoring position in both the first and third innings but were unable to come through with a clutch hit to take the lead.

The Wolverines broke through to dent the scoreboard first in the top of the fourth inning. Following a leadoff triple by Cole McWhorter, Jason Zundel brought him home with a single to right. With a runner on first and two outs, a hit batter followed by a Northwestern throwing error cost the Wildcats another run.

NU put two men aboard in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings, but again failed to tally.

Michael Jahns entered in relief of Brooke in the top of the seventh inning and struck out the side. However, the Wolverines tacked on an insurance run against Jack Quigley in the top of the eighth on a run-scoring groundout by Chris Benson.

The Wildcats were unable to rally in their last two chances at the bat as they fell to 0-1. In all, NU left eight men on base.

Northwestern returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday as it takes on Western Michigan, followed by a 2:30 p.m. tilt against host Texas Tech.

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