Rain threatened to wash out the Northwestern baseball team’s weekend series against Michigan State, but the Wildcats picked up three wins and propelled themselves into sixth place in the Big Ten.
NU (22-18, 7-9 Big Ten) squeezed in a pair of doubleheaders Saturday and Sunday, dropping the first game 5-4 to the Spartans (14-26, 4-11) before winning three straight: 3-2, 7-2 and 5-4.
The victories moved the Cats ahead of both Indiana and Michigan in the conference standings. NU, which was third to last going into the weekend, found itself in sixth place at the end of Sunday. The top six teams in the Big Ten qualify for the conference tournament at season’s end.
“If we make it to the tournament, anything can happen,” outfielder Bob Dainton said. “We’re in good position right now.”
Coach Paul Stevens said the team is still taking things one game at a time.
“I can’t worry about what position (we’re in),” Stevens said. “I don’t feel any different today than I did two weeks ago.”
Inclement weather nearly prevented the games from even taking place. Friday’s series opener was canceled because of rain. On Saturday the teams played in the sun, but rain pushed the start time of Sunday’s makeup doubleheader back by an hour and a half to 2:30 p.m.
Even so, the Cats fit in Sunday’s twin bill and brought the series to a close in exciting fashion.
Leading 4-3 in Game 2, NU needed just three outs to secure a win. But two Cats errors allowed Michigan State to tie the game on a groundout.
In the bottom of the inning, however, shortstop Jeremy Kurella singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. The next batter, second baseman J.P. Williamson, roped a single up the middle to score Kurella and seal the game.
“The execution was tremendous,” Stevens said. “We got some bunts down and we got some key hits.”
Stevens said the only time his team faltered was during the first game of the series.
Once again NU led 4-3 heading into the final inning, and once again the Cats committed two errors. Michigan State outfielder Bob Malek then laced an RBI single and teammate Rick Court followed with an RBI sacrifice fly to give the Spartans a 5-4 lead.
In the bottom of the inning, NU pinch hitter Todd Morgan was called out for batter interference — a controversial call that negated a stolen base and stifled the Cats’ rally.
NU fared better in the nightcap, riding senior Dan Padgett’s complete-game pitching performance to victory. Padgett allowed just one earned run and struck out eight Michigan State batters.
Meanwhile, the Cats generated all the necessary offense in the second inning, scoring three runs on a Frank Favia single, a Kurella walk with the bases loaded and a Williamson sacrifice fly.
“It was effective,” Padgett said of his pitching. “I got by with what I had. I don’t think I walked anybody. One guy I hit in the leg, but that happens.”
Padgett’s performance was not the weekend’s only quality start. When the rain finally let up Sunday, NU put sophomore Zach Schara on the hill. Schara — the team’s No. 1 starter for most of the season — worked quickly and efficiently, allowing just two runs on five hits to pick up the complete-game win.
The offense proved equally effective. Dainton knocked out seven hits and drove in six runs over the weekend, including a 4-for-4, four-RBI game Sunday. Williamson added six hits of his own, including the game-winner to end the series.
Kurella, catcher Joe Hietpas and designated hitter Pat Thompson also produced at the plate. In addition to scoring three runs and driving in two, Kurella increased his league-leading stolen base total to 25 with two swipes Saturday.
“As the top of the lineup goes, we go,” Stevens said. “It’s no secret: if they’re swinging the bat well, we’re going to win a lot of ballgames.”
With the weekend’s success and a series with ninth-place Iowa to look forward to next weekend, Padgett said the Cats are currently “sitting pretty.”
“Obviously, we’re not exactly where we want to be — at the top — but we’re in contention,” Padgett said, “and that’s all you can ask for right now.”
