EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern clinched its final series of the season with a 4-0 shutout of Rutgers behind another sterling performance from freshman Hank Christie in game one of Friday's doubleheader at Miller Park.
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Christie earned his fifth win and sixth quality start of the season, pitching a gem of 7.0 IP, with no runs, four hits allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have won seven of the last eight games Christie has started.
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The win moved Northwestern to 12-11 on the season and guaranteed at least a .500 record in the Big Ten for the first time since 2010.
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Senior Matt Hopfner built on yesterday's six-RBI performance with a two-for-four performance and two RBI on the day for the 'Cats. Freshman Alex Erro also collected two RBI with a single.
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Senior Joe Hoscheit maintained his scorching Big Ten campaign and went two-for-three with two singles and a walk.
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Freshman Sam Lawrence threw two scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen to seal the deal against the Scarlet Knights with one strikeout.
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The Wildcats struck first in the second inning after Connor Lind led off with a single and Jake Schieber was hit by his 12th pitch of the season. Alex Erro sent a two-out hard grounder to shortstop that found its way through to score Lind and Schieber to make it 2-0.
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Northwestern doubled the lead in the seventh inning when Willie Bourbon, Jack Dunn, and Hoscheit all walked to load the bases. Hopfner lashed a single into right field to build a 4-0 lead.
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Lawrence was worked into a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth with no outs, but earned a strikeout and a double play to keep the Scarlet Knights off the board.
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The 'Cats still have not locked up their berth in the Big Ten Tournament, but will do so with a loss from Michigan State either today or tomorrow, or two losses from Purdue.
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Game two of the doubleheader is set for 2:35 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will proceed after the conclusion of the game.
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Christie earned his fifth win and sixth quality start of the season, pitching a gem of 7.0 IP, with no runs, four hits allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. The Wildcats have won seven of the last eight games Christie has started.
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The win moved Northwestern to 12-11 on the season and guaranteed at least a .500 record in the Big Ten for the first time since 2010.
Â
Senior Matt Hopfner built on yesterday's six-RBI performance with a two-for-four performance and two RBI on the day for the 'Cats. Freshman Alex Erro also collected two RBI with a single.
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Senior Joe Hoscheit maintained his scorching Big Ten campaign and went two-for-three with two singles and a walk.
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Freshman Sam Lawrence threw two scoreless innings of relief out of the bullpen to seal the deal against the Scarlet Knights with one strikeout.
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The Wildcats struck first in the second inning after Connor Lind led off with a single and Jake Schieber was hit by his 12th pitch of the season. Alex Erro sent a two-out hard grounder to shortstop that found its way through to score Lind and Schieber to make it 2-0.
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Northwestern doubled the lead in the seventh inning when Willie Bourbon, Jack Dunn, and Hoscheit all walked to load the bases. Hopfner lashed a single into right field to build a 4-0 lead.
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Lawrence was worked into a bases-loaded jam in the top of the eighth with no outs, but earned a strikeout and a double play to keep the Scarlet Knights off the board.
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The 'Cats still have not locked up their berth in the Big Ten Tournament, but will do so with a loss from Michigan State either today or tomorrow, or two losses from Purdue.
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Game two of the doubleheader is set for 2:35 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies will proceed after the conclusion of the game.
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