Northwestern
18-32, 0
Minnesota
23-23, 0
'Cats Walk off Gophers in Dramatic Fashion, 7-6
5/17/2024 8:40:00 AM | Baseball
EVANSTON, Ill. – In a back-and-forth affair, Northwestern walked off Minnesota 7-6 in Thursday's series opener at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.
After a weather delay pushed first pitch back a half hour, another weather delay paused the game after just two batters. Following the game's resumption, Minnesota scratched across the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first.CARDIAC 'CATS ?? pic.twitter.com/8Fe3fFcPRG
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 17, 2024
The Golden Gophers (23-23, 9-13 Big Ten) used a couple of softly hit singles to add onto the lead in the top of the second, scoring one run on three hits and one error.
Northwestern (18-32, 4-18 Big Ten) got on the board in the bottom of the second with a solo home run by Vince Bianchina, his third of the season, to trim the Minnesota lead to 2-1.
In the bottom of the fourth, the 'Cats grabbed a 3-2 lead on a two-run blast by Trent Liolios.
Minnesota retook the lead on a two-run home run by Sam Hunt in the top of the sixth, putting the Golden Gophers up 4-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Jackson Freeman put Northwestern back in front with a home run to deep right field, giving NU a 5-4 lead.
With two outs in the top of the ninth, Minnesota used a two-run home run to left to grab a 6-5 lead.JACKSON FREEMAN. CLUTCH. ?? pic.twitter.com/BJUf3IrTNO
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 16, 2024
Northwestern rallied in the bottom of the ninth. Lorenzo Rios led off the inning with a hit by pitch and was pinch ran for by Drewbie Pinkston. Next batter, Vince Bianchina laid down a bunt, but Minnesota's throw to first was muffed by the Golden Gopher first baseman, advancing Pinkston to third. After a strikeout, Tony Livermore laid down another bunt, and an errant throw brought Bianchina around for the game's winning run.
Jack Dyke started for the Wildcats, earning a no-decision after surrendering two runs on six hits and one walk, fanning one in 5.0 innings pitched. Garrett Shearer (3-9) earns the win, after allowing two runs on two hits in 1.0 inning pitched.CHAOS! 'CATS WIN! 'CATS WIN! pic.twitter.com/S4z2XqG0T7
— Northwestern Baseball (@NUCatsBaseball) May 16, 2024
Connor Wietgrefe is credited with the loss, allowing two runs, one earned, on one hit in 0.1 innings pitched.
Game two is set for Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. CT at Rocky and Berenice Miller Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Shearer, Garrett (3-9)
L: Connor Wietgrefe (7-4)
Batting:
2B: Jake Perry 1 ; Ike Mezzenga 1
HR: Weber Neels 1 ; Sam Hunt 1
RBI: Brady Counsell 1 ; Weber Neels 2 ; Josh Fitzgerald 1 ; Sam Hunt 2
SH: Brady Counsell 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Brady Counsell 1 ; Weber Neels 1 ; Ike Mezzenga 1 ; Sam Hunt 1 ; Drew Berkland 1 ; Tristan Ellis 1
Batting:
2B: Arnone, Griffin 1
HR: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 1
RBI: Freeman, Jackson 2 ; Liolios, Trent 2 ; Bianchina, Vince 1 ; Livermore, Tony 1
SH: Bianchina, Vince 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Markinson, Bennett 1 ; Freeman, Jackson 2 ; Liolios, Trent 1 ; Pinkston, Drewbie 1 ; Bianchina, Vince 2
HBP: Freeman, Jackson 1 ; Rios, Lorenzo 1
