March 5, 2005
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - Catcher Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) hit two home runs and drove in three of Northwestern's nine runs, helping the Wildcats defeat Cal State Northridge in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Matador Field. After being shut out in game one, NU scored its second highest run total of the season, winning 9-5. The two teams will meet in the series finale, tomorrow, at 11 a.m. (PST).
In the second inning, Northwestern finally found the scoring column when first baseman Mark Ori's (Niles, Ill./Maine South) leadoff double came around to score. After lining his second double of the season down the left field line, Ori moved to third on a ground ball and scored on Max Mann's (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) fielder's choice. Left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) reached on a catcher's interference prior to Mann's at-bat.
The Wildcats took a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when McMahon hit his first home run of the season over the left centerfield fence. The count was 0-2 when he connected on the long ball.
CSUN made the score 2-1 in the fifth inning, as a leadoff triple scored on a squeeze bunt.
NU extended their lead in the top of the sixth, plating three runs on three hits, taking advantage of a hit batsman. Following the plunking of Ori, McMahon tattooed his second home run of the game, lining a 0-1 pitch over the right centerfield wall. Wycklendt and Mann followed with base hits, putting runners on first and third with one out. Designated hitter Michael Kalina (Munster, Ind./Munster) hit into a potential inning-ending double play, but beat the throw to first, allowing Wycklendt to score from third. His run gave NU a 5-1 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Matadors plated one run in the bottom half of the sixth, making the score 5-2 after six complete innings.
Sophomore right-hander George Kontos (Lincolnwood, Ill./Niles West) started on the mound for the Wildcats, pitching six complete innings. In his third start of the season, Kontos gave up just two runs on four hits. For the season, Kontos has a team-leading 1.74 ERA in 20.2 innings pitched. Opponents are hitting just .167 this season.
NU picked up where the left off, scoring two more runs in the seventh, taking advantage of a two-base throwing error by the CSUN pitcher. Freshman center fielder Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) stole his second base of the game on a failed pickoff attempt by Cal State Northridge. Newman and third baseman Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) scored in the inning. Mikrut reached on the error and scored on a wild pitch.
Sophomore Dan Schwartz (New York, N.Y./Northern Valley Regional) started the seventh on the mound for NU, pitching one and one-third innings before giving way to senior Chris Hayes (Lake Forest, Ill./Lake Forest). Hayes finished the game for the Wildcats.
Northridge made it a game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the eighth, making the score 7-5 going into the ninth inning.
But Northwestern answered the call, plating two more in the top of the ninth. Mikrut and Ori led off with singles, and McMahon reached on a fielding error. With no outs and the bases loaded, pinch-hitter Stanley Finch (Lubbock, Texas/Cooper) lined a single up the middle, scoring Mikrut from third. Ori was called out at the plate on a close play. McMahon scored on a passed ball.
CSUN managed one hit in the ninth, but three come backers to Hayes on the mound ended the game.