April 23, 2002
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. - Northwestern's baseball team played its fourth mid-week game of the year, beating Valparaiso 8-7 in Michigan City, Ind. The Wildcats are 3-1 in nonconference mid-week games since the beginning of the Big Ten Conference season back on March 29.
Starting his first game this season, senior Andy Adams (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect) threw the first three innings, improving to 3-0 on the year. Adams was designated by the Northwestern coaching staff to pitch the first three innings prior to the start of the game. In all, NU used six pitchers with each pitcher assigned a certain number of innings.
NU got started early, scoring five runs in the first three innings and taking a 5-2 lead into the fourth. In the first, David Gresky (North Royalton, Ohio/St. Ignatius) blooped a single over the VU second baseman's head scoring third baseman Steve Haake (Belleville, Ill./Gibault) from third. Haake led off the game with a walk. In the second, second baseman Eric Roeder (Onsted, Mich./Onsted) drove in his first run of the day with a line drive down the left field line, scoring left fielder Dan Pohlman (Barrington, Ill./Barrington).
The 'Cats exploded for three runs in the third inning, breaking a 2-2 tie. Right fielder Brandon Ackley (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) led off with a single through the left side and was called out at second on a Jason Krynski (Niles, Ill./Niles West) fielder's choice. Gresky followed with a single to right, advancing Krynski to second. Pohlman was the next hitter, reaching on an error which loaded the bases for designated hitter Todd Morgan (Shorewood, Minn./Minnetonka). Morgan drove a 2-0 fastball down the right field line, scoring two runs and bringing up the catcher, Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel). McMahon's groundout to second allowed Pohlman to score and give NU a 5-2 lead.
On the other side of the diamond, Valpo put up single runs in the first, second and fourth innings before NU put the game out of reach.
In the top of the fifth, Roeder hit a two-out bases loaded double to deep center field, clearing the bases and putting NU ahead 8-3. On the play, Roeder tried to stretch a double into a triple and was thrown out a third to end the inning. A pitch hit Pohlman, Morgan singled to right and McMahon walked to set the table for Roeder. All the NU action was done with two outs.
NU would not score any more runs as Valpo slowly made a comeback. VU scored a run in the sixth, one more in the seven and two in the eighth setting up an 8-7 score for NU closer Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel).
Mikrut, who picked up his first collegiate save in Game 4 vs. Penn State last weekend, came on to pitch the ninth. He allowed one hit and struck out one throwing 18 pitches, earning his second save.
NU managed 10 hits in the game with Pohlman, Gresky, Morgan and Roeder each ending the day with two apiece. Roeder finished the contest with four RBI while Pohlman scored three runs.
The 'Cats are next in action when they travel to Champaign, Ill., for a four-game conference series against the University of Illinois, beginning at 6:35 p.m. Friday. Game 1 is slated for nine innings.