March 25, 2005
Box Score
BRADENTON, FLa. - A hit batsman, a double, three sacrifice bunts and an RBI single is how game two ended for the Northwestern baseball team. The best part of all that, NU was on the winning end, scoring three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to beat Vermont 4-3.
After losing game one of a twinbill 3-1 and having a lackluster offensive day, the Wildcat baseball team found a way to win.
Down 3-1 after six innings, center fielder Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) was hit by a pitch to start the bottom of the seventh-inning. He quickly picked up his fifth stolen base of the year, swiping second. Pinch-hitter Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) doubled to left-center, scoring Newman and bringing NU to within one at 3-2.
With pinch runner Mark Bennett (Palos Park, Ill./Providence Catholic) on second and no outs, Vermont made a pitching change. The next three Wildcat hitters all reached safely on sacrifice bunts. Stanley Finch's (Lubbock, Texas/Cooper) bunt was misplayed by the catcher, putting runners on first and third with no outs. Bennett tied the game on Mike Phelp's (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) sacrifice bunt and Vermont failed to get an out, leaving runners on first and second with no outs and the score tied 3-3. Jake Owens' (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) bunt was throw to third, but a hustling Finch beat the throw, loading the bases with no outs.
With the infield in and one out (a force play at the plate), shortstop Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel), hit a towering single to deep left centerfield, scoring Phelps from third and giving NU the come-from-behind 4-3 win.
In a game mastered by the pitching staffs of both teams, NU tallied its second come-from-behind win of the week. The Wildcats fell behind Cornell 7-0 last Sunday, only to score two in the eighth for an 8-7 victory. The win ups NU's record to 8-8 overall and 4-2 while in Florida.
Sophomore Bobby Ferla (Waldwick, N.J./St. Joseph Regional) picked up his first collegiate win, throwing the final inning. He did not give up a hit and has a 1.93 ERA in five appearances this season.
Classmate Ryan Myers (Lake Villa, Ill./Carmel), fresh off his `Louisville Slugger' National Player of the Week honor, started on the mound for NU, throwing six complete innings. He struck out seven, giving up three runs (two earned) on only three hits. Myers has struck out 37 and walked only seven in 25.1 innings pitched.
The `Cats are next in action at 10 a.m. (CST) tomorrow facing Dartmouth. It will be the second time NU has played Dartmouth this week. They defeated the Big Green 3-2 on Thursday.