EVANSTON, Ill. — Northwestern used an offensive clinic to down Minnesota, 10-3, in a critical game on Friday at Rocky & Berenice Miller Park. The win tied the series at one victory apiece.
The Wildcats got another tremendous start from rookie southpaw Mike Doherty, who tossed a quality start, going 6.1 innings and allowing only two runs and six hits while striking out a career-high five batters.
He extended his scoreless innings streak to 18-straight, the longest such stretch for a Wildcat tosser this season, before allowing a run in the seventh inning.
As a starter, Doherty improved to 5-1 with a 1.87 ERA (9 ER/43.1 IP).
Northwestern struck first and struck fast. Jack Dunn led off the game with a triple and Alex Erro quickly drove him in with a ground-out.
Dunn went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the game, moving his career hit total to 229. He surpassed Joe Girardi and is now tied with Joe Hietpas for ninth all-time in NU history.
After not scoring in the second and third innings, the Wildcats drove in a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Casey O'Laughlin, who finished the game 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBI, smacked his team-high fifth home run of the season, a solo shot.
After back-to-back bunts by Mike Trautwein and Jack Dunn, Erro singled through the right side to extend the NU lead to 3-0.
The Wildcats plated seven more in the bottom of the third, the most runs scored in an inning by NU all season.
Six of the seven runs came via bases-clearing doubles, first by Casey O'Laughlin and next by Shawn Goosenberg, who finished 3-for-5 with two extra-base hits and a career-high three RBI.
Erro drew a bases-loaded walk in the inning as well. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBI in the contest.
Minnesota hit a solo homer in the seventh inning, the first that Doherty has allowed in Big Ten play. They also scored another on a bases-loaded walk. The Gophers also tacked on one more in the ninth.
The Wildcats are set to play their regular season finale tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. against Minnesota.
The Wildcats got another tremendous start from rookie southpaw Mike Doherty, who tossed a quality start, going 6.1 innings and allowing only two runs and six hits while striking out a career-high five batters.
He extended his scoreless innings streak to 18-straight, the longest such stretch for a Wildcat tosser this season, before allowing a run in the seventh inning.
As a starter, Doherty improved to 5-1 with a 1.87 ERA (9 ER/43.1 IP).
Northwestern struck first and struck fast. Jack Dunn led off the game with a triple and Alex Erro quickly drove him in with a ground-out.
Dunn went 2-for-4 with two runs scored in the game, moving his career hit total to 229. He surpassed Joe Girardi and is now tied with Joe Hietpas for ninth all-time in NU history.
After not scoring in the second and third innings, the Wildcats drove in a pair of runs in the fourth inning. Casey O'Laughlin, who finished the game 2-for-2 with a career-high four RBI, smacked his team-high fifth home run of the season, a solo shot.
After back-to-back bunts by Mike Trautwein and Jack Dunn, Erro singled through the right side to extend the NU lead to 3-0.
The Wildcats plated seven more in the bottom of the third, the most runs scored in an inning by NU all season.
Six of the seven runs came via bases-clearing doubles, first by Casey O'Laughlin and next by Shawn Goosenberg, who finished 3-for-5 with two extra-base hits and a career-high three RBI.
Erro drew a bases-loaded walk in the inning as well. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and three RBI in the contest.
Minnesota hit a solo homer in the seventh inning, the first that Doherty has allowed in Big Ten play. They also scored another on a bases-loaded walk. The Gophers also tacked on one more in the ninth.
The Wildcats are set to play their regular season finale tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. against Minnesota.