Northwestern Rallies to Split Twin Bill

4/1/2017 6:28:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By David Herder

EVANSTON, Ill.— Northwestern split its doubleheader against Air Force with a thrilling 7-6 comeback victory in game two at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.

Northwestern (7-18) was led by Willie Bourbon's second home run of the season in game one, while the Wildcats downed Air Force (12-14) in game two behind a strong top-of-the-order showing, with Jack Dunn and Matt Hopfner combining to go 6-for-9 with four RBI and three runs.

Tommy Bordignon got the start for Northwestern in game one, and kept Air Force grounded early. After starting the game with four scoreless frames, Bordignon finished with five strikeouts in 5.2 innings, allowing four runs on just three hits.

Northwestern was first on the board with a strong bottom of the fourth. Connor Lind walked, before a Leo Kaplan double put two runners in scoring position. Sacrifices from Jake Schieber and Bourbon brought both runners in, giving Northwestern an early 2-0 lead.

Air Force's offense took flight in the middle innings scoring ten runs in three innings to lead 10-2 at the seventh inning stretch.

Bourbon pulled one back in the bottom of the seventh with a deep home run to right field, and Tyler Lass pitched two innings of relief, allowing one run on two hits with a pair of strikeouts, as Northwestern lost game one 11-3.

The Air Force offense picked up where they left off in the second game, scoring six runs in the first three innings.

Charlie Maxwell began the third with a single before advancing to second. Dunn then singled in the first run, before Hopfner and Alex Erro each added another hit, driving home the second run. With a Joe Hoscheit sacrifice, the Wildcats had halved the deficit, clawing back to 6-3.

The Wildcats looked to repeat their strong inning in the fourth, and started with a carbon copy. Maxwell got on and advanced to second, before Dunn singled him home. A Hopfner double later, Northwestern had scratched their way back to being down just one.

Sam Lawrence had come out of the pen in the third inning, and kept Air Force in check. The lefty allowed just three hits scattered across three scoreless innings, enabling the Wildcat comeback.

For the third time in the game, Northwestern singled home a runner from second, with Hopfner bringing home Ben Dickey to tie the game in the sixth. Another single broke the deadlock, as Schieber singled to center and Hoscheit scored from third.

Pete Hofman relieved Lawrence in the sixth inning, and shut down Air Force. The senior struck out five while allowing just one hit over 3.2 scoreless innings, claiming the win as Northwestern posted a 7-6 comeback victory over Air Force.

Northwestern will wrap up the three-game set against Air Force on Sunday, March 2, at noon CT.