Wildcats Fall Short in 6-5 Loss to Nicholls State
March 7, 2004
Nicholls State Box Score in PDF Format
DOTHEN, Ala. - The Northwestern baseball team wrapped up the 2004 Wiregrass Classic with a 6-5 loss to Nicholls State Sunday morning at Northcutt Field. After exploding for 33 hits in the first two games, NU managed just five hits in today's game, as Colonels pitching struck out eight Wildcats in the game. NU finished the Classic with a 2-1 record, ending the three-game weekend with a 4-7-1 overall record. Nicholls State opened the scoring in the top of the fourth inning as a two-out walk came around to score. A double down the left field line scored the runner form first, giving the Colonels a 1-0 lead. Northwestern finally found the hit and run columns in the bottom of the fifth inning, as right fielder Jason Krynski hit a one-out two-RBI double off the center field wall. Pinch hitter Josh Lieberman was issued a leadoff walk and moved to second on Doug Beatty's sacrifice bunt. After Dan Brauer was walked, for the third time in the game, Krynski hit his fifth double of the season. Shortstop Jon Mikrut followed with a single through the right side scoring Krynski on a close play at the plate.
Nicholls State answered with four runs in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of a Wildcat error. The Colonels had four hits, all singles, in the inning, as two of the four runs were unearned.
In the inning, freshman George Kontos relieved starter Dan Konecny with one out and runner on third. Kontos induced a fly ball and ended the inning with a groundout to first. Konecny pitched five and one-third innings, giving up five runs (three earned) while striking out and walking four. NSU tacked on another run in the top of the eighth as a bases-loaded walk scored the runner. Kontos gave up a leadoff double and issued a walk, before junior Chris Hayes relieved him. Hayes fielded a bunt and threw to third base for the first out and got a fielder's choice groundball to second, leaving runners on first an third with two outs. Two consecutive walks allowed the runner to score. Junior Evan Blesoff got a fly to center field to end the inning. The Wildcats stayed in the game, plating two runs in the eighth inning on Anthony Wycklendt's first home run of the season. It was a two-run round-tripper, as Mikrut reached on a one-out single to center. The home run made the score 6-5 Nicholls State after eight complete innings. NU threatened in the ninth, stranding a leadoff single on second base. The 'Cats are next in action when they travel to Bradenton, Fla., for spring break. They will play a total of seven games in nine days, beginning with Miami (Ohio) on March 19. Game time is set for 5 p.m. (EST). |
|
