Wildcats Tame Bulldogs, 6-2

Friday, March 5

Dothan, Ala.

1 p.m.

Northwestern

Samford

3/5/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

March 5, 2004

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DOTHAN, Ala. - Northwestern opened the 2004 Wiregrass Classic with a convincing 6-2 win over Samford University at Northcutt Field Friday afternoon. Sophomore Dan Brauer was the recipient of 16 Wildcat hits as the left-hander improves to 1-1 on the season. The win ups NU's record to 3-6-1, while the Bulldogs fall to 0-8.

The Wildcats got things going early, plating a run in the top of the first inning. Matt Brimmer bunted for a hit with one out and quickly stole second. Brimmer crossed the plate when shortstop Jon Mikrut slapped a two-out single through the left side. Mikrut was thrown out at second base trying to advance on the throw.

The very next inning, left fielder Mark Ori singled through the left side and went to third on Mike Phelps' single down the left-field line. Freshman Caleb Fields followed with a bunt single to the first base side of the mound, allowing Ori to score from third. A wild pitch moved Phelps and Fields 90-feet, setting up Josh Lieberman. Lieberman delivered a single to left, scoring both runners, but was cut down at second trying to advance on the throw.

In the first two innings alone, the Wildcats touched Samford starter, Stephen Artz, for four runs on seven hits. All seven hits were singles. In fact, 15 of NU's 16 total hits went for singles. Brimmer's triple with two outs in the second inning was NU's only extra-base hit of the game.

The offense would slow down from there, not in the number of hits, but in the number of runs.

Over the next five innings, NU managed six hits and left five runners on base without scoring a run. In those same innings, the Bulldogs scored one run on five hits. The run was unearned as a leadoff infield error came around to score in the bottom of the fourth inning.

While NU was hitting the ball but not scoring, Brauer was on his game. The Wheaton-Warrenville South product struck out a career-high 11 Bulldogs in seven complete innings and most impressively, did not walk a single batter. For the season, Brauer has struck out 26 hitters in 24.1 innings. His seven complete innings is the longest outing by a Wildcat starter this season.

Minus a couple batters, Brauer's relief on the mound was just as impressive.

Freshman George Kontos started the eighth inning, but was pulled after two hitters, both four-pitch walks. Junior Chris Hayes entered the game and faced only three batters. A Bulldog runner did cross the plate, however, as a slow roller for out number one moved the runners to second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly and another groundball ended the inning.

The game was out of reach by that point, however. In the top half of eighth, NU loaded the bases with no outs as Fields and Brimmer each notched an RBI in the inning. Fields hit a bases-loaded slow roller to the second baseman, eliminating a play at the plate, allowing Anthony Wycklendt to score. Wycklendt singled to leadoff the inning. Fields reached on an error by the Bulldog infielder. After a runner was forced out at home for the first out, Brimmer hit a sacrifice fly ball to left, scoring Phelps from third and ending the Wildcat scoring. Phelps walked in his at-bat to reach base.

Freshman Andrew Smith came on to pitch a perfect ninth inning, making his seventh appearance of the young season. Smith struck out one.

Offensively for the Wildcats, Brimmer and Ori each had three hits while Lieberman, Mikrut and Fields each had two. Lieberman and Fields notched a pair of RBI apiece, while Brimmer and Mikrut each had one.

The 'Cats are next in action when they take on host school Troy State in their second night of the season. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (CST) Saturday evening.