April 3, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Freshman Caleb Fields picked an opportune time to hit his first collegiate home run, as his three-run shot in the bottom of the seventh inning gave Northwestern a walk-off 12-10 win in game two of Saturday's doubleheader. After losing game one 4-3, NU used an 11-hit attack, which included three home runs, to improve to 11-10-1 overall, 2-1 in the Big Ten.
The Wildcats opened the game in dramatic fashion, hitting two three-run home runs in the bottom of the first inning. Senior catcher Dan Pohlman and sophomore Anthony Wycklendt did the mashing, hitting their third and second home runs, respectively. In the inning, Indiana starter Adam Pegg hit three NU batters and gave up a single, setting the table for Pohlman and Wycklendt.
After cruising through the first three innings, the wheels fell off for Wildcat starter Dan Konecny in the fourth. In the inning, Indiana (17-9, 1-2 Big Ten) sent 12 hitters to the plate, scoring six runs on seven hits. NU used three pitchers, as junior Chris Hayes relieved Konecny. Hayes faced four batters before head coach Paul Stevens called on Julio Siberio to end the threat.
Siberio pitched one and two-third innings, giving up no runs and just one hit.
With the score tied 6-6, NU regained the lead when Josh Lieberman hit a sacrifice fly to score Caleb Fields from third. Fields hit a one-out single, stole second, and went to third when the Indiana pitcher balked.
The Wildcats extended their lead to 9-6 in the bottom of the fifth inning as Pohlman led off with a walk and quickly stole second. After a strikeout, Mark Ori flied out to deep left field, allowing Pohlman to advance to third. Wycklendt followed with an RBI single to center, scoring Pohlman. Doug Beatty was hit by a pitch, putting runners on first and second with two outs. The hero of the day, Fields, followed with a single to right, scoring Wycklendt from second. Fields ended the day 3-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored. He is hitting .324 on the season.
The lead did not last long, however.
Shortstop Jon Mikrut went from his infield position to the mound, and was touched for four runs in the top of the sixth inning. Indiana did not score in the seventh, as NU turned a double play to end the Indiana half of the inning.
Down 10-9 in the bottom half of the last inning, Mikrut led off with a single to the hole at shortstop. Ori followed with a sacrifice bunt that the pitcher fielded and made a late throw to second base, allowing Mikrut to slide in safely at second. Wycklendt laid down another sacrifice, putting runners on second and third with one out. Junior Mike Phelps, who went in to play third when Mikrut took the mound, tried to lay down a safety squeeze, but a good play by the pitcher got Mikrut at home for the second out. Fields hit the first pitch he saw over the right field fence to end the game.
Offensively for NU, Wycklendt went 2-for-4 with four RBI, followed by Pohlman with three runs batted in. Brimmer and Mikrut each went 2-for-3.
NU and Indiana wrap up their four-game series with the finale tomorrow at 1 p.m CDT.