Northwestern Drops Series Opener to Minnesota, 7-4

4/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

April 15, 2011

Box Score

Site: Minneapolis, Minn. (Target Field)
Score: Minnesota 7, Northwestern 3
Records: NU (9-21, 2-5 Big Ten), Minnesota (11-13, 3-4 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Saturday, April 16 -- at Minnesota (Target Field), 3:05 p.m.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Michael Jahns struck out a career-high eight batters, but Northwestern wasn't able to hold on to an early three-run lead, falling to Minnesota 7-4 at Target Field Friday afternoon.

The Wildcats got on the board first in the top of the second inning. Jack Havey reached to lead off the frame as his routine grounder to second base was misplayed. When Kyle Ruchim followed with a triple to the wall in right-center, NU had the lead. Jake Straub make it 2-0 when he brought home Ruchim with a run-scoring grounder to short.

Northwestern went back to work in the top of the third as it plated a run without the ball leaving the infield. Trevor Stevens started things with a bunt single, stole second and then moved to third on an infield single by Paul Snieder. Chris Lashmet's perfectly executed squeeze bunt brought in Stevens to give the guests a 3-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Jahns was dealing on the mound for the Wildcats. The Hawaiian apparently took a liking to the cold temperatures and fanned two batters over each of the first three innings to surpass his previous career high of three strikeouts.

The Golden Gophers got on the board with an unearned run in the home half of the fourth as it got some help from NU. A wild pitch and a passed ball each advanced Nick O'Shea before he scored on a groundout by Trip Schultz.

Normally a reliever, Jahns began to scuffle in the bottom of the sixth. The first two batters reached before a wild pitch moved them both into scoring position. Jack Quigley came on from the bullpen and issued a walk to load the bases before a run-scoring grounder by O'Shea and an RBI single by Schultz tied the game. Kyle Geason's sacrifice fly to center put Minnesota in front 4-3.

Northwestern wasted an excellent chance to tie the game or take the lead in the ensuing half inning. With two on and no one out, the Wildcats bunted into a force out at third before another runner was retired at third attempting to advance on a ball that got away from the Gophers' catcher.

A three-run double by O'Shea in the bottom half of the seventh broke the game open.

Minnesota closer Scott Matyas entered in a non-save situation to start the ninth inning. He hadn't surrendered a run all season and had allowed just three hits in 14 2/3 innings pitched, but NU got him for a run in two hits, including a double off the wall in left-center by Jack Livingston. However, it wasn't enough as NU dropped the series opener.

Jahns settled for a no-decision and was charged with three runs while allowing three hits and one walk to go along with his eight strikeouts in five innings of work. Quigley (1-1) took the loss for the Wildcats.

The teams are slated to continue their weekend series at 3:05 p.m. Saturday.

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