Saturday, April 21

Evanston, Ill.

2 p.m.

Northwestern

9-23, 0

Michigan State

13-22, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan State	0	0	3	0	0	1	0	0	0	4	5	1
Northwestern	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	2	6	1

Northwestern Outlasted by Michigan State

4/21/2018 5:21:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. – Northwestern outhit Michigan State on Saturday, but the Spartans outlasted Northwestern, 4-2, at Miller Park.

The Wildcats were effective at putting well-hit balls in play, but were unable to find holes in the Michigan State defense.

Hank Christie earned the start and worked five innings, only allowing two hits while striking out four.

The Wildcats struck first in the bottom of the second. Willie Bourbon singled to center, and Connor Lind was hit by a pitch to put runners on. After a crucial sacrifice bunt from Charlie Maxwell, center fielder Ben Dickey singled to right to drive in Bourbon.

Dickey has now earned a RBI in both games of the series versus the Spartans.

Michigan State answered in the top of the third. After a pair of walks, Justin Antoncic singled to bring in a run, and Chad Roskelly doubled to bring home two more to take a 3-1 lead.

The Wildcats threatened to begin their half of the third after a leadoff double from Jack Dunn, however Dunn was thrown out at the plate on a soft grounder to third by Jack Claeys.

After retiring the last seven batters he faced, Christie was relieved of his duties by Ryan Bader to begin the sixth. The Spartans were then able to string together three straight singles, the last coming on a bunt, to plate another run and put Michigan State up, 4-1.

Bader was replaced by Tommy Bordignon in the top of the eighth. Bader exited after pitching two innings, allowing one run on three hits and a pair of strikeouts.

After allowing a leadoff walk, Bordignon put together a clean top of the eighth to set the 'Cats up in their half.

In the home of the eighth half, Northwestern was able to plate one after a walk and error from pitcher Jake Lowery. With Alex Erro on second, Bourbon singled to right to shorten the deficit to two, 4-2, entering the final frame.

Bordignon continued his strong stint in the top of the ninth, retiring the Spartans in order. Dickey kept up his streak of solid hitting with a double down the right field line with one out in the ninth, but was left stranded to end the game.

The series will conclude Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with rookie Jack Pagliarini set to take the mound for the Wildcats.