March 30, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Playing the first game of the originally scheduled doubleheader, Northwestern dropped to 6-11 overall, 0-2 in the Big Ten as Ohio State centerfielder Nick Swisher hit a 1-2 slider over the left field wall, giving OSU the 6-5 win.
With Ohio State starting pitcher, Scott Lewis, cruising through the first three innings, facing the minimum number of hitters (nine), third baseman Josh Lieberman (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein) ripped a triple over the OSU centerfielder to lead off the inning. One out later, rightfielder Brandon Ackley (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) jumped all over the 0-2 Buckeye offering and drove it to the right centerfield gap, scoring Lieberman. With two out, leftfielder David Gresky (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Ignatius) blooped a single over the shortstop's head, scoring Ackley from second.
In the top of the seventh and the score 2-1, NU opened the floodgates, scoring three runs on three hits. Designated hitter Dan Pohlman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington) got things started with a one out walk and advanced to second on a line drive single by junior Travis Tharp (Boulder, Colo./Boulder). Both runners advanced on an OSU error and came around to score on singles by Lieberman and Steve Haake (Belleville, Ill./Gibault). Ackley got into the act hitting a sacrifice fly to deep right field, scoring shortstop Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) from third. Mikrut reached on the error.
The floodgates weren't open far enough as Ohio State came storming back in the bottom half of the inning, scoring five runs to win, 6-5. Swisher, who hit his second home run of the day, hit a two-run line drive shot over the left field wall to end the game.
The left-handed senior, Ryan Bos (Barrington, Ill./Lake Zurich), started on the mound for Northwestern, going the distance and striking out nine and falling to 1-4.