Catcher Joe Hietpas was 2-for-4 in the 5-3 loss to Saint Mary's College on Sunday Feb. 18Catcher Joe Hietpas was 2-for-4 in the 5-3 loss to Saint Mary's College on Sunday Feb. 18

Northwestern Baseball Falls to St. Mary's (Calif.) 5-3

Feb. 18, 2001

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - The Northwestern baseball team fell to Saint Mary's College, 5-3, in Phoenix, Ariz. Just two days earlier, NU defeated the Gaels, 3-0, to help them win the Rawlings/Oakland Athletics Spring Training Tournament that concluded earlier today. NU won the tournament with a 3-1 record.

Freshman Dan Konecny, started on the mound for Northwestern, throwing two and one-third of an inning and recorded the loss. Sophomore Christopher Spiering came on in relief, throwing two and two-thirds and giving up one run. Junior Andy Adams threw a perfect final inning.

Offensively, senior catcher Joe Hietpas broke out of his hitting slump going 2-for-4 at the plate with one RBI. Outfielder Brandon Ackley was 2-for-3, while David Gresky went 1-for-4 and stroked an RBI double. Matt Thompson and Ken Padgett also recorded hits for the `Cats.

Northwestern is next in action at the McNeese State Tournament in Lake Charles, La., from Feb. 23-25. The Wildcats will play McNeese State the first game Friday.