Friday, April 14
Champaign, Ill.
7 p.m.
Northwestern
12-21, 2-5
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4
Illinois
13-18, 2-5
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Northwestern
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Illinois
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9
1
Northwestern Rallies to Take Illinois to Extras
4/15/2017 12:49:00 AM | Baseball
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Northwestern rallied from a 3-1 deficit to take Illinois to extra innings Friday night in the series opener, but a bases-loaded walk in bottom of the 11th gave the Illini a 4-3 win.
Northwestern's (12-21, 2-5 B1G) pitching staff was fantastic in the effort. Cooper Wetherbee made his third start of the season and went 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, three runs and striking out four. The bullpen combined to allow just one run on three hits over the final 4.2 innings.
Illinois (13-18, 2-5 B1G) Ty Weber received a no-decision after starting the game and tossing seven innings, holding the Wildcats to two runs on four hits. Ryan Schmitt earned the win after tossing the 11th.
Joe Hoscheit led the way offensively for Northwestern, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBI. Leo Kaplan brought in Northwestern's other run when he launched his second career home run in the top of the seventh. Willie Bourbon and Jack Dunn each tallied a hit.
Wetherbee was effective early, only allowing one hit and striking out three through the first three innings. The Illini loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, but Wetherbee settled in and set down three straight to get out of the jam.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of fourth when Hopfner reach on an Illinois' throwing error and eventually came around to score on Hoscheit's double to left field. It was his eighth double of the season and 21st RBI.
Illinois took its first lead of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth by scoring two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead.
Northwestern made some noise in the top of the fifth. Willie Bourbon singled through the right side and Alex Erro walked with two away, but the Wildcats couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
Illinois was able to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Doran Turchin.
Kaplan brought the #B1GCats back within a run in the top of the seventh by launching his second home run in three games to make it a 3-2 contest.
The Wildcats pulled the game even at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning. Erro was hit by a pitch and Dunn moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Following a Matt Hopfner walk, Hoscheit drove a pitch back up the middle to score Erro.
Tyler Lass and Richard Fordon combined to work scoreless fifth and sixth innings for Northwestern and make way for Pete Hofman. Hofman retired the first nine batters he faced, but a pair of hits and an intentional walk in the bottom of the 11th set up the game-winning play.
Game two of the series between Northwestern and Illinois will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.
Northwestern's (12-21, 2-5 B1G) pitching staff was fantastic in the effort. Cooper Wetherbee made his third start of the season and went 5.1 innings, allowing six hits, three runs and striking out four. The bullpen combined to allow just one run on three hits over the final 4.2 innings.
Illinois (13-18, 2-5 B1G) Ty Weber received a no-decision after starting the game and tossing seven innings, holding the Wildcats to two runs on four hits. Ryan Schmitt earned the win after tossing the 11th.
Joe Hoscheit led the way offensively for Northwestern, going 2-for-5 at the plate with a pair of RBI. Leo Kaplan brought in Northwestern's other run when he launched his second career home run in the top of the seventh. Willie Bourbon and Jack Dunn each tallied a hit.
Wetherbee was effective early, only allowing one hit and striking out three through the first three innings. The Illini loaded the bases in the bottom of the third, but Wetherbee settled in and set down three straight to get out of the jam.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of fourth when Hopfner reach on an Illinois' throwing error and eventually came around to score on Hoscheit's double to left field. It was his eighth double of the season and 21st RBI.
Illinois took its first lead of the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth by scoring two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead.
Northwestern made some noise in the top of the fifth. Willie Bourbon singled through the right side and Alex Erro walked with two away, but the Wildcats couldn't capitalize on the opportunity.
Illinois was able to extend its lead in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by Doran Turchin.
Kaplan brought the #B1GCats back within a run in the top of the seventh by launching his second home run in three games to make it a 3-2 contest.
The Wildcats pulled the game even at 3-3 in the top of the eighth inning. Erro was hit by a pitch and Dunn moved him into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Following a Matt Hopfner walk, Hoscheit drove a pitch back up the middle to score Erro.
Tyler Lass and Richard Fordon combined to work scoreless fifth and sixth innings for Northwestern and make way for Pete Hofman. Hofman retired the first nine batters he faced, but a pair of hits and an intentional walk in the bottom of the 11th set up the game-winning play.
Game two of the series between Northwestern and Illinois will take place tomorrow at 3 p.m. CT.
••••••
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Schmitt, Ryan (1-1)
L: Hofman, Pete (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Hoscheit, Joe 1
HR: Kaplan, Leo 1
RBI: Hoscheit, Joe 2 ; Kaplan, Leo 1
SH: Dunn, Jack 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Erro, Alex 1 ; Hopfner, Matt 1 ; Kaplan, Leo 1
CS: Dickey, Ben 1 ; Maxwell, Charlie 1
HBP: Erro, Alex 1
Batting:
2B: Skonieczny, Mark 1 ; Turchin, Doran 1 ; Hammond, Trent 1
HR: Turchin, Doran 1
RBI: Turchin, Doran 1 ; Hammond, Trent 2 ; Engel, Tyler 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spillane, Bren 1 ; Turchin, Doran 2 ; Rowbottom, Dan 1
CS: Troike, Ben 1
HBP: Hammond, Trent 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
INF
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
1B/OF
/ BaseballOF
/ BaseballOF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ Baseball
LHP
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