Seven-Run Seventh Guides Wildcats Past Billikens, 8-5

3/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

March 11, 2011

Box Score

Site: St. Louis, Mo. (Billiken Sports Center)
Score: Northwestern 8, Saint Louis 5
Records: NU (3-6), Saint Louis (9-3)
Next NU Event: Game 2 of doubleheader vs. Saint Louis -- immediately following first game

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - Northwestern overcame a late five-run deficit to rally for an 8-5 win over Saint Louis in the first game of a doubleheader Friday afternoon at Billiken Sports Center.

Trailing 5-0 after six innings, the Wildcats scored seven times in the seventh inning and once in the eighth to earn the victory.

Saint Louis was able to get a run off Northwestern starters Luke Farell in the bottom of the first inning to jump out to an early advantage.

The Billikens would add three runs to their lead in the fourth with some help from the Wildcats. Saint Louis loaded the bases with no one out on a hit batter, a walk and a Northwestern error that scored a run. A sacrifice fly plated another run before another hit-by-pitch two batters later marked the end of Farrell's day. A run-scoring single off reliever Jack Quigley gave the hosts a four-run lead.

Saint Louis would add one more unearned run against Ethan Bramschriber in the sixth to make it 5-0. Meanwhile, NU managed just three hits and a walk off Billiken starter Alex Alemann through the first six innings.

The game dramatically turned in the Wildcats' favor in the seventh inning, though. A single by Paul Snieder and a double by Chris Lashmet put two in scoring position for Chris Kontos who plated Snieder on a run-scoring groundout. Colby Everett then followed with an RBI single to get NU within 5-2. A Saint Louis error put two on for pinch-hitter Jack Havey who plated a pair with a double down the right-field line to get the Wildcats within one and brought Alemann's day to a close.

Jack Livingston greeted reliever Jim Foster with a single and Trevor Stevens followed with a two-run double to left that gave Northwestern the lead. After Stevens stole third, Kyle Ruchim executed a squeeze bunt to put NU ahead 7-5.

The Wildcats would add one more run in the eighth on an RBI single by Havey to make it a three-run game. That was enough of a cushion for Snieder who hurled the final three innings scoreless with four strikeouts to earn his second save of the season.

Matt Gailey earned the win with 2/3 of an inning of relief. Stevens led Northwestern at the plate with four hits and five at-bats. He drove in two runs, as did Havey. Northwestern finished with a 12-7 advantage in the hit column.

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