Wildcats Fall Short in Comeback Bid, Lose 8-7 at MSU
May 23, 2004
Michigan State Box Score in PDF Format
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Northwestern fell one run short in a comeback bid in game four against Michigan State Sunday afternoon, falling 8-7 at John H. Kobs Field in East Lansing, Mich. The two teams split a four-game series, as NU finishes with a 26-28-1 overall record, and 14-18 in the Big Ten. MSU jumped all over NU in the first, sending nine hitters to the plate. The Spartans scored five runs on five hits, two of which were two-run home runs. The Wildcats loaded the bases with one out in the top of the fourth inning, but a double play ended the NU threat. In the inning, shortstop Jon Mikrut and left fielder Anthony Wycklendt singled, before catcher Geoff Dietz was hit by a pitch to load the bases. MSU extended their lead to 7-0, taking advantage of a wild pitch and throwing error by the NU pitcher. After two straight singles to lead off the fifth for the Spartans, head coach Paul Stevens called on Ryan Myers to relieve starter George Kontos. After a walk to load the bases, MSU plated a run on a sacrifice fly, giving them an 8-0 lead.
Kontos pitched four-plus innings, giving up eight runs (seven earned), striking out six and walking one. His record falls to 3-5 for the year.
NU started to mount a comeback, scoring four runs on four hits in the top of the sixth inning, to cut the Spartan lead in half. Mikrut hit a line-drive two-run home run over the center field fence, driving in designated hitter Dan Pohlman. Pohlman laced a single up the middle to lead off the inning. Right fielder Jason Krynski then hit his second single of the game, moving to third when Anthony Wycklendt laced his 11th double off the right center field fence. Pinch hitter Mike Phelps drove in NU's third run of the inning with a fielder's choice to second base. Junior J.A. Happ drove in NU's fourth run of the inning, hitting a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to left field. It was Happ's first and only at-bat of the season. After giving up a leadoff single, Myers struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth. In the top of the seventh, Brimmer hit his third home run of the season, sending the ball over the right center field fence. Brimmer's round-tripper brought NU to within three, at 8-5. The Wildcats went on to load the bases in the inning, but Spartan reliever struck out the final out of the inning on an 11-pitch full count at-bat by Phelps. NU plated two more runs in the top of the eighth, making the score 8-7 in favor of MSU. With runners on second and third with two outs, Pohlman lined a single to left field, scoring both runs. Lieberman and Brimmer scored on the hit, reaching base via hit-by-pitch and walk, respectively. Neither team made any noise in the final inning and one-half, ending the Wildcats season.
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