Northwestern Drops Series Opener at UIC, 5-2

3/8/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

March 8, 2012

Box Score

Site: Chicago, Ill. (Les Miller Field)
Score: UIC 5, Northwestern 2
Records: NU (3-8, 0-0 Big Ten), UIC (3-8, 0-0 Horizon League)
Next NU Event: Friday, March 9 -- at UIC (Les Miller Field), 5:05 p.m.

CHICAGO -- Playing its first game of the season in the state of Illinois, the Northwestern Wildcats came up short in the first of the three games at UIC Thursday evening. The 'Cats dropped the opener at Les Miller Field in Chicago, Ill., 5-2.

In the top of the first inning, the Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs thanks to three straight singles off of UIC starter Joey Begel, but they were unable to push a run across any runs.

The Flames got on the scoreboard first when they scored a run in the bottom of the frame. NU starting pitcher Zach Morton walked Ryan Shober to leadoff the inning and the UIC shortstop came around to score on a double off the bat of Joe Betcher.

The 'Cats evened the score in the top of the third when Paul Snieder belted his team-leading third home run of the season deep over the wall in right-centerfield. That was the only offense that Northwestern could muster in the inning, however.

Snieder collected three hits in the contest to lead all players.

UIC regained the lead in the bottom of the third, adding another pair of runs. Nick Addison scored on Alex De La Rosa's single to leftfield and De La Rosa touched the plate when Morton issued a free pass to Harry Kammholz with the bases loaded to make it 3-1.

After six innings of work, Morton's day was done. The junior allowed three runs on four hits, though only two of the tallies were charged to the righty. The Evanston native fanned four Flames and walked four in the game.

The 'Cats scratched out some more offense in their half of the eighth inning. With the bases loaded, Nick Linne laced a one-hop single to left, Morton, who remained in the game as the designated hitter, went to tag-up at third and eventually scored. Snieder had to slow up on the play as not to pass Morton and the brief hesitation allowed De La Rosa to get the baseball to Betcher who relayed to Alex Jurich to cut down Northwestern's first baseman. After seven and a half innings, the Wildcats trailed, 4-2.

UIC added an insurance run on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Jurich in the home half of the eighth.

NU collected eight hits, while holding UIC to six. The Wildcats were also charged with a pair of defensive miscues in the contest.

Morton took the loss, his fourth of the young season. Begel notched his first win of the year and Collin Weyer picked up his first save.

The Wildcats and Flames will resume the three-game set late tomorrow afternoon at The Mill. Senior RHP Francis Brooke (0-0, 1.23 ERA, 14.2 IP) is slated to toe the rubber for NU. He's scheduled to be opposed by UIC senior RHP Matt Heaslip (0-1, 6.59 ERA, 13.2 IP). The first pitch is once again scheduled for 5:05 p.m.

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