May 1, 2005
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern dropped an 11-inning, 6-5 decision to Iowa Sunday at Rocky Miller Park in the final showdown of the four-game series. Between a hail delay, six errors, 24 hits, a booming collision in the outfield and four hit batsmen, the extra-inning affair was anything but routine.
The Hawkeyes wasted no time finding the scoring column, recording two runs in the first inning, and adding another run in the second. With the bases loaded in the third, designated hitter Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) recorded the Wildcats' first hit of the afternoon with a two-out two-run single to left.
Northwestern evened the score at three in the next inning. Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) was hit by a pitch, and Mike Phelps (Lockport, Ill./Lockport Township) singled, advancing Dietz to third. Second baseman Caleb Fields (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) hit a deep fly ball to center, which allowed Dietz to score.
Iowa answered with a run of their own in the top of the fifth before the 'Cats took the lead in the bottom of the inning. Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning before Jon Mikrut (Wauconda, Ill./Carmel) tripled to score the speedy centerfielder. Mikrut scored on a wild pitch to give NU a 5-4 lead.
The most concerning moment came in the top of the sixth inning when Jesse Brownell hit a low pop fly to the outfield, just to the left of second base. Fields and Newman were both racing to the ball when they collided and the ball squirted lose from Fields' glove. Both lay in the outfield for several minutes. Newman was the first to recover, but Fields left the game.
Iowa evened the score at five in the eighth inning as Kris Welker hit his fourth home run of the season.
The Wildcats had a chance to score in the 10th, as Dietz and Phelps hit back-to-back singles with two outs, but NU could not push a run across.
The Hawkeyes notched what proved to be the winning run after Nathan Price singled and stole second and third. Andy Lytle drove him in with a double to left.
The 'Cats would not go down without a fight, however, as Newman led off the bottom of the 11th with a single and advanced to third on a single through the left side by Mikrut. McMahon moved Mirut to second with a ground out to the pitcher and Iowa intentionally walked Mark Ori (Niles, Ill./Maine South) to load the bases. Anthony Wycklendt popped out to the first baseman to set up a two-out bases loaded situation for Max Mann. Mann grounded to third to end the game.
Mikrut led the Wildcats with three hits, including an RBI triple. Newman and Phelps each added two hits a piece.
Northwestern drops to 21-18 overall and 10-10 in the Big Ten, while Iowa improves to 19-22 on the season and 12-8 in Conference play.
The Wildcats are in action next Wednesday in a nonconference matchup at Northern Illinois. First pitch is slated for 6:30 p.m.