May 5, 2006

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - Minnesota scored eight runs in the top of the sixth inning on their way to a 15-3 series-opening win over Northwestern Friday afternoon. The Wildcats went ahead 3-0 before the Gophers scored 15 unanswered runs, dropping NU to 17-26 overall, 14-7 in the Big Ten.

Northwestern went ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning when Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) launched his seventh home run deep over the right field wall. Second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) scored on the hit, leading off the bottom of the inning with a sharp single to left field.

NU scored an unearned run in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-0 lead through three innings. Owens led off the inning with an infield single and went to second on first baseman Pat McMahon's (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) single to center. Owens stole third and went home as the throw got away from the Gopher catcher and ended up in left field. Owens advanced the final 90-feet on the errant throw.

Minnesota answered with a run in the top of the fourth off Wildcat starter Ryan Myers (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich). A leadoff double went to third on a groundball and scored on an infield single. The hit that scored the run was a hard grounball that hit off Myers' leg and deflected towards first base.

The Gophers tied the game with two run in the top of the fifth inning. A pair of singles, the first of which scored Minnesota's second run, followed a leadoff double. The third run was unearned as an errant throw to first base on an attempted double play allowed the run to score.

Minnesota chased Myers from the game in the top of the sixth inning, using three hits, including an RBI double to score their fourth run of the game. Myers was lifted for right-hander Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood) with runners on first and third and one out. After Smith misplayed a come backer, loading the bases, a two-RBI double to gave Minnesota a 6-3 lead.

Still in the sixth, Stevens called on junior lefty Dan Schwartz (New York, N.Y./Northern Valley Regional) to stop the bleeding. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, the first hitter laced a single to centerfield to score two runs and give the Gophers an 8-3 lead. After a pair of Schwartz walks, Stevens came out of the dugout for the third time in the inning to make a pitching change. This time he called on freshman Eric Binder (Burr Ridge, Ill./Hinsdale Central). Like the two relievers before him, Binder gave up a two-run single to give the Gophers an 11-3 lead. A slow grounder to first base scored another run and a groundout to third finally ended the inning with Minnesota ahead 11-3.

The Gophers added an insurance run in the top of the seventh inning as a leadoff double came around to score on a sacrifice fly.

After giving up NU's third run in the third inning, Minnesota pitcher Cole Devries retired 17 of the next 18 Wildcats and struck out a season high nine.

Minnesota scored another three runs in the top of the ninth off Binder. Sophomore Brian Morgan (Eden Prarie, Minn./Benilde-St. Margaret's) got the final out of the inning.

Northwestern and Minnesota will continue its four-game series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. Game one will begin at 1 p.m. at NU's Rocky Miller Park.

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