May 4, 2010
Site: Gary, Ind. (U.S. Steel Yard)
Score: Northwestern 10, Valparaiso 8
Records: NU (19-25, 9-6 Big Ten), Valparaiso (18-25, 6-5 Horizon)
Next NU Event: Wednesday, May 5 -- vs. Univ. of Chicago (Rocky Miler Park), 3 p.m.
Box Score
GARY, Ind. - Northwestern used the strength of an eight-run sixth inning to rally from five runs down en route to a 10-8 victory over Valparaiso at U.S. Steel Yard Tuesday evening. Sophomore Paul Snieder had the decisive blow in the frame, socking a grand slam that gave the Wildcats the lead.
"I don't want to overstate it, but I continue to be impressed by the resilience of this team," Northwestern head coach Paul Stevens said. "Trailing 7-2, they easily could have packed it in. But when presented with an opportunity, they took advantage of it and showed a great deal of perseverance."
Valparaiso was able to strike first in the top of the first inning against Joe Muraski. Will Hagel came to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs and was able to clear them with a three-run double to the gap in left-center.
After putting two aboard in the bottom of the first, Northwestern cashed in against Tyler Deetjen in the home second. Trevor Stevens was at third with two down when Chris Kontos went the other way for a triple to right. Geoff Rowan then followed with an RBI double to left to get the Wildcats within 3-2.
However, the Crusaders answered right back in the top of the third inning to regain their three-run advantage as Billy Cribbs had a run-scoring single and Karch Kowalczyk contributed a sacrifice fly.
Valparaiso added two runs to its lead with a two-out rally in the fifth. Three consecutive doubles by Cribbs, Kowalczyk and Damon McCormick extended the Crusaders' lead to 7-2.
Northwestern had plenty of opportunities to put more runs on the board through the opening five innings of play as it collected seven hits. But Deetjen was aided by his defense which turned three double plays behind him through the first five frames.
After Matt Gailey tossed a scoreless top of the sixth, the game took a stunning turn in the bottom half. Aided in large part by three Valparaiso errors, the Wildcats sent 12 men to the plate and scored eight runs to turn a five-run deficit into a three-run lead.
With the bases loaded and no one out, Colby Everett hit a comebacker to reliever Matt Carroll. The Crusaders got the forceout at the plate, but the relay throw to first was wild and allowed two runs to score on the play. Following a single Kontos, Geoff Rowan singled home a run to make it a 7-5 game.
After Arby Fields drew a walk to load the bases, Chad Noble hit a routine grounder to third base that was booted, marking Valpo's third miscue of the inning and drawing NU to within a run. Snieder then made all the errors pay as he went to the opposite field for a grand slam to give Northwestern the 10-7 lead. It was Snieder's third home run in the last two games after socking two in the Wildcats' 7-5 win at Illinois on Sunday.
Steve Sanders hurled a scoreless seventh inning before Michael Jahns came on for the eighth. However, the sophomore right-hander was unable to record an out as the Crusaders closed to within two on an RBI single by Kyle Gaedele.
Snieder replaced Jahns on the mound and recorded back-to-back strikeouts with the tying runs on base. Hagel then hit a single to left, but Rowan fired a hose to the plate to gun down Kyle Muhlsteff attempting to score from second to end the inning.
Snieder then sat down the Crusaders in order in the ninth, recording his third and fourth strikeouts of the game, to nail down his 10th save of the season. He finished the day 3-for-5 at the plate with two doubles to go along with his grand slam. Kontos also collected three hits for NU.
Northwestern returns to action at 3 p.m. Wednesday as it hosts University of Chicago at Rocky Miller Park. Admission is free of charge.
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