Friday, March 5
Minneapolis, Minn.
11 a.m.
Northwestern
0-1, 0
3
vs
6
Penn State
1-0, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Northwestern
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
1
0
3
4
2
Penn State
0
1
1
3
0
0
0
1
X
6
8
0
'Cats Drop Season Opener to Penn State
3/5/2021 6:39:00 PM | Baseball
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – After 362 days, Northwestern baseball finally returned to the diamond on Friday afternoon to face off against the Penn State Nittany Lions at US Bank Stadium.
The Wildcats were unable to overcome a three-run inning from Penn State in the bottom of the fourth, falling 6-3 in the season opener.
Making his first-ever collegiate start, Vincent Bianchina tallied two of the four Wildcat hits on the day, including an RBI double in the top of the second inning to drive in David Dunn for the first run of the season.
Dunn reached base twice on the day, going 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored.
Stephen Hrustich finished 1-for-4 and drove in a run in the top of the third inning via an RBI-single to center field.
Taking the mound as the opening day starter for the 'Cats was Ryan Bader, who allowed five runs and six hits in 3.1 innings while striking out three. First-year Garrett Boeckle came in for relief and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out a pair. Quinn Lavelle finished the game for Northwestern, allowing just one run and two hits over 3.0 innings while striking out three.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday for doubleheader against Penn State beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
The Wildcats were unable to overcome a three-run inning from Penn State in the bottom of the fourth, falling 6-3 in the season opener.
Making his first-ever collegiate start, Vincent Bianchina tallied two of the four Wildcat hits on the day, including an RBI double in the top of the second inning to drive in David Dunn for the first run of the season.
Dunn reached base twice on the day, going 1-for-2 with a hit by pitch, a stolen base and a run scored.
Stephen Hrustich finished 1-for-4 and drove in a run in the top of the third inning via an RBI-single to center field.
Taking the mound as the opening day starter for the 'Cats was Ryan Bader, who allowed five runs and six hits in 3.1 innings while striking out three. First-year Garrett Boeckle came in for relief and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings while striking out a pair. Quinn Lavelle finished the game for Northwestern, allowing just one run and two hits over 3.0 innings while striking out three.
The Wildcats will be back in action on Saturday for doubleheader against Penn State beginning at 9 a.m. CT.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dees (1-0)
L: Bader, Ryan (0-1)
S: Shingle (1)
Batting:
2B: Bianchina, Vince 2
RBI: Calarco, Anthony 1 ; Hrustich, Stephen 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Dunn, David 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1 ; O'Donnell, Ethan 1
SB: Dunn, David 1
CS: Hrustich, Stephen 1 ; Dunn, David 1
HBP: Dunn, David 2
Batting:
2B: Spiegel 1 ; Robison 1 ; Harry 1
HR: Spiegel 2 ; Hendershot 1
RBI: Piacentino 1 ; Wood 1 ; Spiegel 2 ; Hendershot 1
SH: Kelly 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Spiegel 2 ; Robison 1 ; Bartels 1 ; Hendershot 1 ; Harry 1
SB: Homer 1
CS: Piacentino 1 ; Robison 1
HBP: Homer 1 ; Wood 1 ; Robison 1
PO: Robison 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
0
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
LHP
/ BaseballINF
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballINF/OF
/ BaseballC/1B
/ Baseball
LHP
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