April 8, 2009
EVANSTON, Ill. -
For most of the opening half of the season, the Northwestern baseball team has struggled to find ways to win close games. That wasn't the case Wednesday afternoon. Junior Jake Goebbert's two-run home run in the bottom of the ninth was a walk-off winner as the Wildcats toppled Northern Illinois 6-5 at Rocky Miller Park.
Northwestern (7-20) entered the contest with just a 3-9 record in games decided by two runs or less in 2009 and a 1-11 mark when the opposition scores first, but the Wildcats found a way to win on this day.
NU trailed 5-4 entering the bottom of the ninth, but Tommy Finn started with the frame with a long drive to left that nearly left the ballpark. The senior shortstop settled for a leadoff double and advanced to third on a perfect sacrifice bunt by Trevor Stevens.
Following a pitching change, Goebbert turned on Dave Reynolds' offering and launched a tape-measure blast over the fence in right, setting off a wild celebration at home plate as the Wildcats won their second game in as many days.
Southpaw Matt Diedrich got the starting nod on the bump for Northwestern and went five strong innings. NIU started the scoring in the top of the first on a solo home run by Jordin Hood and then added two more in the second on a two-run single by Brett Frantini.
NU got a run back in its half of the second as Chris Lashmet led off the frame with a blast to center field, his second round-tripper of the season to make it 3-1. The Huskies got the run back in the top of the fourth before the Wildcats got two unearned runs in their half of the frame. An error on a one-out ball hit by Lashmet opened the door as Lashmet doubled him home and Quentin Williams added an RBI single to get the 'Cats within 4-3.
Michael Jahns relieved Diedrich on the mound following a walk and a single to open the sixth and Northern Illinois managed a two-out hit to increase its lead to two. But Northwestern answered right back again a Kenneth Avila doubled home Chad Noble.
Making his first outing since the 2007 season, Cole Livermore worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings before David Jensen hurled a perfect ninth, setting up the dramatic finish.
Northwestern finished with a 12-8 edge in the hit column, paced by three hits by Finn and two apiece from Goebbert, Noble and Williams.