May 8, 2004
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern scored three runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth inning, defeating Illinois 5-3 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Rocky Miller Park. Shortstop Jon Mikrut hit his sixth home run of the year and junior J.A. Happ threw his second complete game of the season.
Illinois broke a scoreless tie when Drew Davidson hit a two-out two-run home run to left field in the top of the fourth inning. Chad Frk hit a one-out double to center field and came around to score on the long ball. After Wildcat starter J.A. Happ issued two free passes, Ryan Rogowski hit an RBI single to center field, giving the Illini a 3-0 lead.
Mikrut tied the game in the bottom of the fifth inning, lofting his sixth home run of the season deep over the left field wall. Mikrut's three-run round-tripper upped his season RBI total to 35, tops on the team. Third baseman Josh Lieberman and first baseman Mark Ori both singled, setting up Mikrut.
The Wildcats took their first lead of the series when pinch hitter Doug Beatty hit a bases-loaded two-RBI seeing eye single off the Illinois third baseman's glove in the bottom of the sixth inning.
That's all Happ would need, striking out five in the seven-inning contest. Happ leads the team with 91 Ks on the year.
Offensively, center fielder Matt Brimmer was 2-for-3 as Lieberman ended the day 2-for-4.