Fast Start Lifts Northwestern Past Ohio State, 7-3

4/2/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

April 2, 2011

Box Score

Site: Columbus, Ohio (Bill Davis Stadium)
Score: Northwestern 7, Ohio State 3
Records: NU (8-15, 1-1 Big Ten), Ohio State (9-11, 1-1 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Sunday, April 3 -- at Ohio State (Columbus, Ohio), 2:05 p.m.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Northwestern scored three times in the top of the first inning and never trailed, defeating Ohio State 7-3 Saturday afternoon at Bill Davis Stadium to even the weekend series at a game apiece.

Ohio State starter Dean Wolosiansky was all out of sorts to begin the game, walking the first three Wildcat batters to load the bases before a wild pitch plated Trevor Stevens to put NU in front. When Paul Snieder followed with a two-run single, Northwestern found itself up 3-0 before an out had been retired.

The Buckeyes got one run back in the bottom of the second to get within two runs. With men on the corners and no one out, Dan Tyson got Greg Solomon to ground into a double play with a run coming in to score.

Tyson worked himself into a jam in the bottom of the third, allowing three straight one-out singles to load the bases. However, he got a lineout to second base and then left fielder Colby Everett made a diving grab to rob Brad Hutton to squelch the threat.

Ohio State would get an unearned run in the fourth to close within 3-2 on a run-scoring groundout by Tyler Engle.

The heart of the order helped Northwestern regain a three-run lead in the top of the sixth. A single by Chris Lashmet and a walk to Snieder marked the end of Wolosiansky's day. Following a sacrifice bunt by Chris Kontos, Lashmet scored from third on a wild pitch by Theron Minium before a single to center by Jack Livingston plated another to put NU up 5-2.

The Wildcats added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh to go up by five. Patrick Miller started the frame with a triple. After Trevor Stevens was hit by a pitch, Kyle Ruchim brought home Miller with a squeeze bunt and everyone was safe on an error by Minium. Snieder then plated his third run of the game with an RBI single to center.

Michael Jahns hurled three scoreless innings in relief of Tyson but exited the game with two on and one out in the bottom of the eighth. Jack Quigley came on and got a grounder to second that likely would have resulted in an inning-ending double play. However, an error loaded the bases and kept the Buckeyes alive. Quigley was unfazed, though, getting pinch hitter Steel Russell to ground to second as well and Miller was up to the task this time, starting a 4-6-3 twin-killing to end the threat.

Ohio State would get one final run in the ninth, but it wasn't enough.

Jahns (1-2) picked up the victory, allowing just one hit while walking two, hitting two and striking out a pair in three innings of work. Snieder paced the Wildcats at the plate with two hits and three RBI.

The teams conclude their three-game series at 1:05 p.m. Central time Sunday. The contest is being televised live by Big Ten Network.

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