Northwestern Takes 11-8 Win Over Ohio State – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/30/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2002%^$
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%^$COLUMBUS, Ohio – After losing the first two games of the Big Ten Conference opener, Northwestern responded by winning the second game of a doubleheader Saturday night at Bill Davis Stadium, handing the Buckeyes an 11-8 defeat.%^$
%^$Ohio State won the first two games of the series, taking an 8-5 victory earlier Saturday in a game suspended Friday night because of rain. The Buckeyes took the first game of the originally scheduled doubleheader in dramatic fashion winning 6-5 in the bottom of the seventh inning on a two-run home run by Nick Swisher (Jr., Parkersburg, W.Va./Parkersburg).%^$
%^$In the nightcap though, Northwestern won despite committing four errors in the contest. The Wildcats jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning, keyed by a doubles by rightfielder Brandon Ackley and leftfielder Stanley Finch and a single by designated hitter David Gresky.%^$
%^$Ohio State pulled within 3-1 in the bottom half of the inning on a throwing error by shortstop Jon Mikurt as he attempted the second half of a double play that caught Doug Dendinger (Sr., Greenwich, Ohio/South Central) at second base. Mikurt’s throw sailed over the head of first baseman Matt Thompson, allowing Brett Garrard (So., Brownburg, Ind./Brownsburg) to score from second.%^$
%^$Northwestern went on to build a 6-1 lead on a three-run home run by catcher Ken Padgett, that scored Finch, who had walked to lead off the inning, and, Mikurt, who singled.%^$
%^$However the lead was short-lived as the Buckeyes exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth to give them a 7-6 lead. The highlight of the inning was a two-run home run by Swisher, his third home run of the day. In addition to its five hits, Ohio State also capitalized on three errors by the Wildcats, who finished with four total for the game. All Ohio State runs in the inning were unearned.%^$
%^$Northwestern came back to score four runs on four hits in the fifth inning to reclaim the lead, 10-6. For good measure they added another run in the sixth inning on a home run by centerfielder Steve Haake.%^$
%^$Dan Konecny got the win for Northwestern to improve to 1-1 on the year, while James Happ, who was originally slated to start Sunday’s game, got his second save of the year. Mike Madsen (Fr., Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin), who replaced starter Chris Hanners (Fr., Groveport, Ohio/Desales), got the loss for Ohio State after he gave up all four Wildcat runs in the fifth inning. Hanners pitched three innings allowing six runs, all earned, on six hits. Madsen gave up four runs, all earned, on four hits. Brandon Steen (Sr., Hendersonville, Tenn./Hendersonville) also pitched 2 2/3 innings for Ohio State, giving up two hits and striking out three.%^$
%^$Padgett finished 3-for-4 with four RBI and scored one run to pace Northwestern. Dendinger was 3-for-4 for Ohoi State knocking in two runs. Swisher was 1-for-4 with four RBI in the nightcap.%^$
%^$The two teams will conclude the four-game series with a 1:05 p.m. start Sunday at Bill Davis Stadium.%^$
