May 6, 2011
Box Score
Site: Bloomington, Ind. (Sembower Field)
Score: Indiana 5, Northwestern 0
Records: NU (14-26, 6-10 Big Ten), Indiana (26-19, 7-9 Big Ten)
Next NU Event: Saturday, May 7 -- at Indiana (Bloomington, Ind.), 11:05 a.m. CT
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Senior left-hander Matt Gailey was stellar in his first start in three seasons, but Northwestern's offense wasn't able to back him up as the Wildcats dropped their series opener at Indiana 5-0 Friday afternoon.
Both teams entered the game tied for seventh place in the Big Ten standings with Michigan with the top six teams advancing to the Big Ten tournament in three weeks.
Making just his third career start and the first since his freshman season, Gailey set the Hoosiers down in order in the first before the hosts were the first to dent the scoreboard in the second. With Micah Johnson on first and two outs, he came around to score on a double to right-center by Ty Downing.
NU threatened in the third as Patrick Miller opened the inning with a walk. However, IU lefty Joe DeNato picked off his 10th runner of the season to clear the bases. With two down, Chris Lashmet doubled to right-center and Paul Snieder was intentionally walked. Jack Havey followed with a smash deep into the hole at short, but Hoosier shortstop Michael Basil made a diving stab and threw to third base for the forceout to end the inning.
Indiana had a great opportunity to build on its lead in the home half of the inning. Northwestern had a potential inning-ending double play turn into an error as the Hoosiers loaded the bases with one out. However, Gailey got a flyout to shallow left and a strikeout looking to keep the deficit at one.
The Wildcats were robbed of a run in the fifth on a great defensive play by Johnson at second base. With two men on and one out, Lashmet was bidding for his third hit in as many at-bats when Johnson leaped high into the error for the grab and then flipped to second for an inning-ending twin-killing.
Gailey continued to provide everything Northwestern could have hoped for in the mound. After facing the minimum three times in the first five innings, Indiana was able to get an insurance run in the sixth. Jerrud Sabourin hit a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson.
NU wasted a tremendous scoring opportunity in the eighth as Miller led off the inning with a single and Trevor Stevens followed with a walk. But with the Wildcats' top two hitters coming up, a popped-up bunt turned into a double play before a strikeout ended the threat.
Indiana went on to add three insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth as Gailey's day came to an end after he loaded the bases with no one out. Snieder came on to pitch and a line drive by Basil popped out of Lashmet's glove at third, plating two runs. Johnson followed with an RBI single to make it 5-0. Jack Quigley came on to strike out the next three batters, but Northwestern wasn't able to rally in the ninth.
The teams continue their series at 11:05 a.m. Central time Saturday. The contest is being televised live by Big Ten Network.
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