Box Score
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Ohio State 6, Northwestern 3 Ohio State 5, Northwestern 2 (11) Rocky Miller Park | Evanston, Ill. Game 1: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) | Highlight Video Game 2: Box Score (PDF) | Box Score (HTML) | Highlight Video |
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GAME ONE RECAP
Northwestern rallied in the bottom of the ninth, but fell short as Ohio State claimed the front end of a twinbill, 6-3, on Sunday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park.
NU starter Matt Portland walked the first two hitters before OSU senior Pat Porter used a single to right field to drive home the first run of the game. The Buckeyes backed up the run with a base hit and a double to jump out to an early 3-0 lead. Sophomore Troy Montgomery, who posted a one-out single and swiped two bases in the top of the second, added another run for OSU before Northwestern could jump on the board.
The Wildcats opened scoring in the bottom of the third when freshman Connor Lind drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second on a single through the left side from junior Zach Jones. Lind came around on a base hit from fifth-year senior Scott Heelan to chip away at the deficit. Northwestern came within two runs in the fourth after fifh-year senior Cody Stevens crossed on a sacrifice fly from Lind.
The `Cats surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh and could not recover. Chicago's Big Ten Team rallied in the ninth, using a double from junior Jack Mitchell to cross Jones, but Ohio State retired the side to claim the first game in Sunday's doubleheader, 6-3.
Northwestern registered 10 hits in game one, including three from Jones and two from Mitchell and Stevens.
GAME TWO RECAP
Northwestern starter Reed Mason turned in an incredible performance on the mound in game two, but Ohio State pushed across three runs in the top of the 11th inning to secure a 5-2 victory in the series finale.
Mason toed the rubber for 8 2/3 innings for the Wildcats. He scattered only four hits and surrendered two runs in the sixth, while striking out five in his seventh start this spring. Mason allowed just one hit through the first five frames.
The Wildcats threatened right away in the bottom of the second. Junior Jack Mitchell led off the inning with a single to left field, sophomore Joe Hoscheit followed up with a base hit of his own and senior Reid Hunter was hit by a pitch to load the bases for fifth-year senior Cody Stevens. Stevens grounded into a double play, but Mitchell was able to score to put the `Cats on the board. Redshirt-sophomore RJ Watters singled up the middle to send home Hoscheit and Chicago's Big Ten Team took the early lead, 2-0.
After retiring 11-consecutive batters, OSU's Tré Gantt reached base on a throwing error from Freschet and advanced to second on a failed pickoff attempt. Junior Zach Ratcliff took advantage of the situation and launched a two-run home run to left field to knot the score, 2-2.
Both teams were held without a run through nine frames to force the game into extra innings. Ohio State drove in three runs, including a solo homer, in the top of the 11th as the Wildcats dropped the finale of a three-game set against the Buckeyes, 5-2.
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