Feb. 19, 2011
Box Score
Site: Lubbock, Texas (Dan Law Field)
Score: Northwestern 3, Western Michigan 2
Records: NU (1-1), Western Michigan (1-2)
Next NU Event: Saturday, Feb. 19 -- at Texas Tech, 2:30 p.m.
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Northwestern twice cut down the potential tying run at home plate in the ninth inning to hold off Western Michigan for a 3-2 win Saturday at the Red Raider Classic.
The Wildcats took a one-run advantage into the ninth when the Broncos got their leadoff man aboard on a single by Grant Simotes. NU then brought on closer Paul Snieder to replace Michael Jahns. Pinch-runner Dan Shutes stole second and then advanced to third on a single by Patrick Duncan, giving Western Michigan runners at the corners with no one out.
Brooks Beilke then attempted a squeeze bunt, but catcher Geoff Rowan teamed up with third baseman Chris Lashmet and Snieder to nail Shutes trying to score. NU intentionally walked Theo Piccirilli to load the bases with one away. Snieder then got Vinnie Booker to fly out to center fielder Trevor Stevens and the converted infielder fired a strike to Rowan at the plate to gun down Duncan trying to score to end the game.
Sophomore right-hander Luke Farrell was outstanding in a starting role for the Wildcats, striking out a career-high eight over six innings of work to pick up the win.
The Broncos got on the board right away in the top of the first, pushing across a single run before Northwestern answered right back. Kyle Ruchim started things with a one-out single before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Lashmet brought him home with a double down the right field line to tie the game.
Western Michigan regained the lead in the top of the fourth on an RBI single by Duncan before NU put together its winning rally in the bottom of the fifth. Cody Stevens and Trevor Stevens started the frame with consecutive singles. A run-scoring groundout by Snieder tied the game before Ruchim plated the eventual winning run on a wild pitch.
Farrell worked around a pair of baserunners in the sixth before Jahns retired the Broncos in order in both the seventh and eighth innings, setting up the wild final frame.
Ruchim had two hits for Northwestern and scored a pair of runs. Snider, a first-team All-Big Ten selection as a reliever a year ago, picked up his first save after tying the school single-season record with 12 last season.
The Wildcats were slated to return to action immediately against host Texas Tech.
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