Wildcats Drop Season-Opener to Mountaineers, 7-3

2/17/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Feb. 17, 2012

Box Score

Site: St. Petersburg, Fla. (Al Lang Field)
Score: West Virginia 7, Northwestern 3
Records: NU (0-1), West Virginia (1-0)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Feb. 18 -- vs. Pittsburgh (Clearwater, Fla.), 3 p.m. CT

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Northwestern collected 13 hits but fell short to West Virginia in the season-opener for both teams Friday morning at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge.

Sophomore Nick Linne paced the Wildcats with three hits, while Luke Dauch, Jack Havey, Zach Morton and Kyle Ruchim collected two apiece.

After sitting out all of last season due to a knee injury, Morton got the start on the mound for NU. The Mountaineers were able to push across two runs in the top of the first on a two-out double by Nate Antone.

Northwestern got a run right back in the home half of the first as Ruchim hit a leadoff double, advanced to third on a single by Morton and scored on a double-play groundout.

West Virginia pushed its lead right back to two in the ensuing half-inning as Max Nogay hit a one-out double, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a groundout to short by Brady Wilson.

After collecting three hits in the first inning, Northwestern collected three more in the second to get within 3-2. Three straight one-out singles by Linne, Cody Stevens and Dauch loaded the bases before Ruchim drew a walk to force home a run. However, a double play prevented the Wildcats from getting any more.

Both Morton and Mountaineer starter Corey Walter settled in after the rocky start. Morton kept the 'Cats in the game by holding West Virginia scoreless over his final four innings of work.

Northwestern would get the tying run into scoring position in each of the next four innings, but it was never able to capitalize. Walter gave way to Dan Dierdorff in the fifth and he was able to work his way out of jams in both the fifth and sixth innings.

Paul Snieder worked a perfect seventh inning in relief of Morton, but the Mountaineers got an insurance run in the eighth as two walks and a pair of singles made it a 4-2 game. West Virginia tacked on three more runs in the ninth as a two-out error led to the damage.

NU attempted to rally in the bottom of the ninth as Snieder hit a sac fly to plate Ruchim. The Wildcats had two in scoring position with one out, but they were unable to get any closer.

Morton posted a quality start, allowing three runs in six innings of work. He surrendered six hits and two walks while striking out four. Dierdorff got the win for West Virginia, tossing the final 4 1/3 innings, allowing only one run.

Northwestern continues play at the Big Ten/Big East Challenge at 3 p.m. Central time Saturday when it takes on Pittsburgh at Jack Russell Stadium in Clearwater.

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