March 14, 2009
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
CHICAGO -
Joe Muraski carried a shutout into the ninth inning and Brian Morgan came on to record the final two outs to earn the save as Northwestern made an early two-run lead hold up in defeating UIC 2-1 in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The Flames rallied back late to win the nightcap 4-3.
The Wildcats (4-10) jumped on UIC starter Chris Kovacevich early in the opening contest, scoring once in each of the first two innings. In the opening frame, a single by Tommy Finn and and an error on a ball hit by Jake Goebbert put runners on the corners for Tony Vercelli whose run-scoring groundout plated Finn.
NU's lead grew to 2-0 in the second. Consecutive hits by Kenneth Avila and Chad Noble started the inning before Trevor Stevens, who was coming off a five-RBI game Friday, plated Avila with a sacrifice fly.
The early cushion proved to be enough Muraski. The junior left-hander stymied the Flames, scattering seven hits in eight and a third innings of work while striking out four.
UIC recorded a pair of two-out hits in the bottom of the second, but was unable to score. Muraski only worked two perfect frames, but after the second inning UIC didn't have a runner reach second base until the seventh.
After setting down the Flames in order in the eighth, Muraski surrendered a leadoff double in the ninth and a run-scoring, one-out hit as the hosts closed to within 2-1. Brian Morgan then entered the game in relief.
A groundout for the second out moved the tying run into scoring position and a hit batter put the winning run on base, but Morgan got leadoff hitter Andy Leonard to ground out to third to earn the save.
Goebbert had a hit and drew a pair of walks for NU which out-hit UIC 8-7. Muraski improved to 1-2 with the win.
In the nightcap, a three-run sixth inning gave Northwestern the lead, but one run in the seventh and three more in the eighth gave the Flames the doubleheader split.
Starters Zach Morton of NU and Mike Kool of UIC locked horns in a pitchers' duel. Morton allowed hits in each of the first four innings, but was able to work his way out of trouble every time, including stranding a pair of runners in scoring position in the third and getting a double-play ball to end the fourth.
The Wildcats finally cashed in against Kool in the sixth to go ahead 3-0. Vercelli followed a Goebbert walk to open the inning with a double that put two in scoring position for Northwestern. Sophomore Chris Lashmet then came through with a two-run single up the middle. An error and a sacrifice bunt later, freshman Geoff Rowan plated Lashmet with an RBI groundout.
Morton walked the bases loaded in the bottom of the sixth but got a flyout to end the frame and maintain the three-run cushion. David Jensen relieved Morton in the seventh and allowed a pair of hits to open the inning before he was relieved by Matt Havey. Brandon Harwell brought home UIC's first run with a single to left-center before a walk filled the bases with one out. But Havey was able to work his way out of further trouble by getting the next to batters to keep Northwestern's lead at 3-1.
The Wildcats weren't as fortunate in the eighth as Brett Schaefer's two-out, three-run homer proved to be the difference.
Derrick Miramontes, who entered the game in the sixth inning, put down NU in order in the ninth to earn the win for UIC. Morton was forced to settle for a no-decision despite tossing six shutout innings. He allowed four hits and three walks while striking out three.
Northwestern returns to action Friday as it starts a four-game series at New Mexico.