May 15, 2006
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's baseball team stayed atop the Big Ten standings with a 12-2 series-finale win against Michigan State Monday afternoon. The Wildcats are currently tied with Michigan (19-9) for the Big Ten lead and hold the tiebreaker after winning three-of-four to start the Big Ten season.
As a matter of fact, NU has had sole possession or at least a share of the Big Ten lead in every week of the conference season. Northwestern is in control of its own championship destiny as it travels to West Lafayette, Ind., to take on Purdue next weekend. The winner of the Big Ten regular season championship hosts the postseason Big Ten Tournament.
In Monday's game against MSU, Northwestern jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the first inning on three hits, including a pair of doubles. Center fielder Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) led off the inning with a single left and went to third on a ground-rule double by Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli). After designated hitter Dan Brauer (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) was walked, Newman crossed the plate on a double play. First baseman Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) followed with an RBI-double to the right field wall to give NU a 2-0 lead.
NU went right back to work it the bottom of the second, scoring two runs on three hits. Newman drove in catcher Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) who hit a one-out single to get the inning started. Dietz moved to third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run by Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean). Finn hit a single through the right side of the infield. Newman followed Finn with his second hit of the game to give NU a 3-0 lead. Finn went to third on Newman's hit and scored on a wild pitch.
The very next inning, left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) launched his seventh home run of the season off the scoreboard in right field to give NU a 6-0 lead. McMahon doubled earlier in the inning -- his second of the game -- scored on Wycklendt's hit.
Wildcat starter Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood) cruised through the first four innings before Michigan State loaded the bases with no outs in the fifth. Smith was lifted for senior Julio Siberio (Davie, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas). Siberio entered the game with a 2-1 count on the first batter he faced. That hitter singled, but the hit was credited to Smith because Siberio entered the game with the at-bat already in progress. A double play back to Siberio and a groundout to second ended the Michigan State threat.
Smith pitched four-plus innings, gave up one run, struck out four and walked two in his third start of the season.
Siberio was as impressive as he has been all season. After escaping the bases-loaded jam in the fifth inning, Siberio allowed only one hit the final four innings. Only problem was, it was a solo home run. He did however earn the win, pitching the final five innings. He struck out three and walked none. Siberio owns the teams lowest ERA at 3.12 in 57.2 innings pitched (16 appearances, 6 starts). He has struck out a season total of 44 and walked only eight.
After a Spartan pitching change, NU scored four runs on three hits with the aide of two hit by pitches in the bottom of the sixth inning. McMahon hit a bases-loaded groundball for his second RBI of the game and Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) drove in two with a single to right field. Dietz drove in the fourth run of the inning with his second bunt single of the game.
In the seventh inning, McMahon drove in his third run of the game with a lined single to right field. Owens scored on the play after reaching base with his second double of the game.
The score after seven complete innings was NU 11, MSU 2.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Dietz launched a solo home run over the left field wall. It was his second round-tripper of the season.
In all, NU exploded for 12 runs on 19 hits, including six for extra-bases. Owens ended the day 4-for-5 with three runs scored and ended the four-game series against Michigan State 10-for-17 (.588). Dietz was 4-for-5 in the game with two RBI and McMahon was 3-for-5 with three RBI.
NU is next in action when it travels to Normal, Ill., to take on Illinois State in its final midweek contest of the season at 7 p.m. Tuesday night.