May 10, 2008

Box Score

EVANSTON, Ill. - David Jensen tossed his finest outing in a Wildcat uniform, but it wasn't enough as Indiana scored the winning run in the top of the seventh inning to earn a 2-1 victory in the opening game of Saturday's doubleheader at Rocky Miller Park. Matt Bashore scattered three hits in earning the complete-game win.

Jensen allowed just two hits through the first six innings, but the Hoosiers (22-27, 10-16) rallied in the top of seventh to plate the tying run.

The sophomore lefty got off to a good start on the mound for the Wildcats (19-24, 12-14) as he retired the first seven batters he faced. Indiana was able to get its offense going with one out in the third, though, as David Trager doubled and was plated one batter later on a single to center by Tyler Cox.

Meanwhile, Northwestern had just one hit through the first four innings against Bashore and that was by the leadoff batter of the game, Jake Owens. However, a pair of errors in the fifth inning allowed the Wildcats to plate the tying run.

Tony Vercelli reached on a miscue by Trager at third base to open the inning, but was forced out at second on a bunt attempt by Max Mann. Following a strikeout, Tommy Finn got on board with another Trager error and the bases were then loaded when Owens reached on an infield single.

Aaron Newman came to the plate next and was plunked by a 3-2 offering from Bashore to plate the tying run. Jake Goebbert followed by working the count full, but Bashore was able to get him on a curve ball to keep the game knotted at 1-1.

Unfortunately for Northwestern, Trager was able to redeem himself in the top of the seventh. With a runner at second and one out, Evan Crawford singled to left. Tyler Rogers was waved around to try to score, but Mike Kalina fired a perfect strike to Chad Noble at the plate to prevent the go-ahead run from scoring. The Wildcats then turned to Jonathan Purcell to relieve Jensen. Crawford, who advanced to second on the throw home, scored easily when Trager singled back up the middle to record his second RBI of the game.

Bashore retired the first two NU batters in the bottom of the seventh, but Finn singled to right to keep the 'Cats alive. A wild pitch moved him into scoring position, but Cox made a back-handed play at shortstop and threw on to first to record the final out.

The second game of the twinbill is set to being at approximately 3:15 p.m.