Illinois Takes Series Opener From Northwestern, 14-4 :: Wildcats can't overcome early deficit

May 3, 2008

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - A big early deficit proved to be too much for the Northwestern baseball team to overcome as it dropped its series opener at Illinois 14-4 Saturday afternoon at Illinois Field. Mike Kalina and Aaron Newman led the Wildcats with two hits apiece.

Brandon Wikoff went a perfect 5-for-5 at the plate for Illinois (26-17, 12-9) with six RBI and four runs scored.

Northwestern (16-21, 10-11) dug itself an early hole as Illinois tallied three runs in the bottom of the first against starter Joe Muraski. With one down, Kyle Hudson reached on a catcher's interference, stole second and scored on a double by Wikoff. Aaron Johnson would follow with an RBI single and Ryan Hastings later contributed a run-scoring groundout.

Meanwhile, the Wildcats struggled to get things going against Illini hurler Kevin Manson. Despite entering the contest with just 27 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched, Manson recorded five K's through the first two innings.

Four more runs in the third extended the Fighting Illini's lead to 7-0. A two-run home run by Brandon Mikoff marked the end of Muraski's outing. Mike Folan entered in relief and allowed an RBI double to Hastings while another run scored on an error on a ball hit by John Schlichter.

After the Wildcats stranded a pair of runners in scoring position in the top of the fourth, Illinois broke the game open with five runs on five hits in the bottom half. Wikoff continued his big day with a two-run single, Hastings had a run-scoring single and Schlichter brought home two with a double to make it 12-0.

Northwestern finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth as it posted a pair of runs. Aaron Newman singled with one down and moved to third on a double to right by Jake Owens. Tommy Finn followed with an RBI groundout before Jake Goebbert plated Owens with a single to left-center. Goebbert and Owens extended their hitting streaks to 16 and 14 games, respectively, in the frame.

Illinois got the runs right back in its half of the fifth as Wikoff and Hastings each plated runs on basehits. NU answered back again, though, as pinch hitter Tony Vercelli connected for his second home run in as many games, an opposite-field, two-run shot to right to get the 'Cats within 14-4.

Brian Morgan entered in relief for the Wildcats on the mound in the sixth and faced the minimum over the next two innings, including inducing a pair of double-play groundouts. Goebbert helped save the bullpen by coming on to make his first collegiate pitching appearance in the eighth and faced the minimum, including getting Illinois to hit into a double play for the third straight inning.

The Fighting Illini finished with a 17-10 advantage in the hit column. Manson (6-1) tossed six innings to earn the win, allowing eight hits while striking out eight and walking two. Lee Zerrusen worked three shutout innings to pick up his first save. Muraski fell to 4-5 in taking the loss for NU.

The teams resume their series Sunday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.