May 9, 2008
Box Score
EVANSTON, Ill. -
Southpaw Eric Jokisch set a Northwestern freshman record with his seventh win of the season and Tommy Finn and Nate Roberts had three hits apiece as the Wildcats held on to defeat Indiana 8-5 in the series opener between the teams Friday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park.
The Hoosiers had the tying run on base in the top of the ninth, but Matt Havey got Chris Hervey to ground into a fielder's choice to secure his sixth save of the season.
NU (19-23, 12-13) got on the board right away in the first as Jake Goebbert took Eric Arnett deep for a two-run homer to right-center. It was the team-high ninth round-tripper of the year for the sophomore slugger.
However, Indiana got the runs right back in the top of the second as Tyler Rogers had an RBI single and David Trager had a run-scoring sacrifice bunt.
The Wildcats jumped back in front in the fourth as Finn made Arnett pay for a pair of walks by lacing a two-run single into right to plate Roberts and Max Mann.
Northwestern extended its lead to 7-2 with three runs in the fifth. With two runners in scoring position and one out, Roberts singled back up the middle to plate a pair. Chad Noble later chipped in with a two-out single to center, extending the Wildcats' lead to five.
Josh Phegley, the Big Ten's leader in batting average and RBI, got Indiana a run back in the sixth with a solo home run, his 11th of the season.
NU got an insurance run back in the seventh as Chris Lashmet led off with a double and then raced around to score when Roberts singled to left to drive in his third run of the game.
Indiana got a run in the eighth against Jokisch in the eighth to get within 8-4 and the Wildcats turned to Havey with the tying run on deck. The senior right-hander was able to get a flyout to keep Northwestern's lead at four.
A single and a hit batter in the top of the ninth gave the Hoosiers two on with nobody out. Following a flyout, another single loaded the bases for the dangerous Phegley who represented the tying run. Havey and the 'Cats opted to pitch to him carefully and walked him on four pitches to plate a run and bring Indiana within three.
NU got a flyout to shallow left for the second out before Hervey grounded a ball deep into the hole between short and third. Finn made a heads-up play, though, flipping to Lashmet for the forceout at third to seal the win.
Jokisch went 7.2 innings to earn his record-setting seventh win against just two losses. He scattered nine hits and allowed four runs and three walks while striking out one. Arnett fell to 3-4 with the loss, allowing eight runs and 13 hits in eight innings of work.
The series continues Saturday with a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Rocky Miller Park.
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