March 6, 2010

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - Sophomore right-hander Francis Brooke allowed only three hits over eighth shutout innings as Northwestern defeated Loyola Marymound 3-0 in the Dairy Queen Classic at the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Saturday afternoon.

Brooke set the Lions down in order the first time through the lineup before Johnson led off the bottom of the fourth with a triple. But the Washington D.C. native worked out of trouble, recording a foul-out, a strikeout and a flyout to keep the game scoreless.

The Wildcats had a number of opportunites against LMU starter Carreon, but Northwestern stranded six men in scoring position through the first six innings.

NU (3-5) would finally put together the decisive rally in the top of the eighth. With one away, Trevor Stevens doubled and Chad Noble followed with an RBI single to get the Wildcats on the board. Two pitching changes later, Chris Lashmet singled home both Noble and Paul Snieder to give NU a three-run advantage.

That proved to be plenty enough offense for Brooke. He hurled one more inning after the NU offense gave him the lead, working around a single and a hit batter.

Snieder entetr the game in relief to begin the bottom of the ninth and retired the Lions in order to secure his first save of the season.

Brooke fanned six and didn't allow a walk in improving to 2-0 on the season. NU held a 12-3 advantage in the hit column, with Stevens, Snieder and Jack Havey leading the way with two hits apiece.

Northwestern completes play at the Dairy Queen Classic at 3 p.m. Sunday when it takes on host Minnesota.