April 1, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Northwestern snapped its 12-game losing streak with a 5-0 win over Michigan in game one of Saturday's doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium in Ann Arbor. Junior lefty Dan Brauer (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) threw a complete-game, five-hit shutout, striking out seven in the process. Offensively, designated hitter Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
Just like they did in Friday's series opener, NU came out swinging in the first inning. NU used four hits and took advantage of two Wolverine errors to score five runs, three of which were earned. Left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet), Mule and third baseman Caleb Fields (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) all registered RBI. Wycklendt hit his second double of the season as NU sent 10 hitters to the plate.
Brauer scattered five hits and allowed only one runner to reach third base in the game. With seven strikeouts-four of them looking-in the game, Brauer upped his team-leading total to 41.
After the first inning, Wolverine starter Paul Hammond settled down and retired the next 12 Wildcats in order. Mule singled with two outs in the fifth inning to break Hammond's streak.
Brauer allowed just one runner to reach second base in the first four innings, but ran into some trouble in the fifth. After recording the first two outs, a pair of walks and a single loaded the bases. Brauer recorded his fifth strikeout to end the Wolverine threat.
Neither team threatened the rest of the game.