April 12, 2011
Site: Chicago, Ill. (Les Miller Field)
Score: UIC 6, Northwestern 3
Records: NU (9-20), UIC (14-15)
Next NU Event: Friday, April 15 -- at Minnesota (Minneapolis - Target Field), 3:05 p.m.
CHICAGO -- Five Northwestern relievers combined to allow just one hit over six innings of work, but a six-run bottom of the second inning by UIC led the Flames to a 6-3 win over the Wildcats Tuesday night at Les Miller Field.
Jack Havey worked out of a bases loaded jam in the first but wasn't as fortunate in the second. With runners on the corners and one out, Havey got John Coen to hit a comebacker to the mound. However, Havey's throw to second was errant and the Flames went on to score six runs in the inning. Five of the runs in the frame were unearned due to the error.
The Wildcats got on the board in the top of the fourth as Paul Snieder ripped a double down the right field line to start the inning and scored on a one-out single by Havey. Northwestern loaded the bases with two outs but wasn't able to draw any closer.
NU put another run up on the board in the fifth as Nick Linne hit a leadoff double and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Snieder to get the visitors within 6-2.
Northwestern continued to chip away in the seventh as Chris Lashmet's RBI single plated Geoff Rowan to make it a three-run game. The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs, but were held at bay.
A pair of two-out walks in the eighth got the tying run to the plate, but once again NU failed to cash in.
After the rough second inning, Northwestern's five relief pitchers were dominant. Jack Quigley, Dan Tyson, Matt Gailey and Kyle Ruchim held UIC hitless from the third through the seventh inning. The quartet retired 16 of the 18 batters they faced, with the lone two Flames reaching on an error and a walk. Snieder worked the bottom of the eighth and allowed a leadoff single, but kept the Flames off the board.
The Wildcats had their 2, 3 and 4 batters in the order up in the ninth inning but they were unable to rally all the way back.
Ruchim went 3-for-4 at the plate for NU and hurled two scoreless innings. Havey (1-5) took the loss for Northwestern
The Wildcats return to action at 3:05 p.m. Friday as the open a three-game series at Minnesota with the games being played at Target Field.
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