Feb. 23, 2008

Box Score

NORTHRIDGE, Calif. -- Freshman Nate Roberts (Spring Grove, Ill./Richmond-Burton) singled home Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) in the top of the ninth inning, snapping a 2-2 tie and sending Northwestern to a 3-2 win over Cal State Northridge. The Wildcats opened the season with a 13-7 win over the Matadors on Friday.

Senior relief hurler Bo Schultz (Dallas, Texas/Highland Park) pitched three shutout innings to pick up the win.

Freshman Eric Jokisch (Virginia, Ill./Virginia) was stellar in his collegiate debut, allowing just two hits and two unearned runs while striking out six in six innings of work.

The 'Cats struck first in the top of the first with a pair of runs. With one on and two outs, Mike Kalina (Munster, Ind./Munster) continuted his hot start to the season by knocking in Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) from third with a run-scoring double. Kalina came across to score the game's second run when Finn reached on a throwing error.

Meanwhile, Jokisch was dominant through the first five innings, surrendering just one hit and two walks.

The Matadors were finally able to get things going in their half of the sixth as they put runners at the corners with one out. Consecutive errors allowed the hosts to tie the game. CSUN had runners at second and third with two down, but Jokisch got a fly-out to left to keep the game knotted at 2-2.

Schultz entered the game on the mound for NU in the bottom of the seventh and allowed a couple of hits before working his way out of trouble. He followed up by setting the Matadors down in order in the eighth.

Finn started the winning rally with a single to open the top of the ninth. Chris Lashmet (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) advanced him to second with a sacrifice bunt and Roberts brought him home with a single up the middle.

The solo tally was enough for Schultz who put Cal State Northridge down 1-2-3 in the ninth to earn the victory.

The Wildcats finished with a 7-4 edge in the hit column, with Kalina and Roberts collecting two apiece.

NU seeks the series sweep beginning at 2 p.m. Central time Sunday.