May 5, 2007

Box Score

MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota scored three runs in the first inning on its way to a 5-4 game two win Saturday night at the Gophers' Siebert Field in Minneapolis. Junior outfielder Aaron Newman was 4-for-4 batting in the leadoff position. The loss drops the Wildcats to 12-32 overall, 4-19 in the Big Ten. Northwestern and Minnesota wrap up their four-game Big Ten series with a single nine-inning contest at 1 p.m. on Sunday.

Minnesota jumped all over Wildcat starter Cole Livermore (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) in the bottom of the first inning. Three hits, including a two-RBI double gave the Gophers a 3-0 lead after one complete inning.

The Wildcats got one run back in the top of the third when Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) singled home Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) from second base. Newman singled to right and moved to second when Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) was walked.

Minnesota went right back to work in the third inning. Three straight hits, including an RBI double, coupled with two stolen bases gave the Gophers a 5-1 lead.

Owens drove in NU's second run of the game with an RBI groundout in the top of the fifth inning. Catcher Chad Noble (Rockwall, Texas/Rockwall) scored on Owens' ground ball. Noble reached on a single, went to second on Newman's third hit of the game and advanced to third on a wild pitch.

Livermore went the distance for the fourth time this season, but took the loss as he falls to 2-8 on the year. He struck out three and has now thrown a team-high 61.2 innings this season.

Northwestern put together a comeback, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the seventh inning. Newman hit a one-out single and scored on a Gopher error. Mule crossed the plate when Fields singled to left. NU left the tying run on base as a line-drive ended the threat.