SEATTLE – BYU plated four runs in the first inning Saturday afternoon in the second game of a doubleheader for Northwestern at the Husky Classic, and the Wildcats were never able to respond in an 8-0 (5) loss to the Cougars.
Northwestern now is 2-2 in the Husky Classic and 9-8 overall on the season. BYU improves to 2-1 at the event and 8-10 on the year with its win.
Northwestern concludes its Husky Classic schedule at noon CT/10 a.m. PT tomorrow, Sunday, March 4 against No. 11 Alabama.
This game got off to a rough start for the Wildcats with the Cougars putting up a four-spot in the bottom of the first inning against NU starter Kenna Wilkey. A bases-loaded double and a sacrifice fly did the damage. BYU then added a two-run home run in the third to make it a 6-0 game.
Northwestern got a pair of walks to start the top of the fourth, but a couple of unfortunate adventures on the base paths erased both in an eventual scoreless frame.
In the bottom of the fourth, Morgan Newport came on in relief of Wilkey. She gave up a trio of hits, including a two-out single that scored a pair to make it an 8-0 game.
In the top of the fifth, Wilkey singled with two outs, but that was it for NU.
Wilkey (3-3) allowed six runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in three innings as the starter, taking the loss. Newport threw 1.0 inning and was charged with two runs on three hits with a K.
In addition to Wilkey's base knock, Morgan Nelson had a single and a walk as part of a 1-for-1 day at the plate.