Trailing 3-0 to Penn State in the bottom of the eighth inning Sunday, Northwestern loaded the bases with nobody out.
The 246-person crowd at Rocky Miller Park came alive as junior first baseman Mark Ori stepped to the plate. The crowd’s shouts only grew louder as Ori took the first two pitches from Alan Stidfole for balls.
Then Ori swung and missed at Stidfole’s next three offerings. Senior shortstop Jon Mikrut followed with a pop-out. Junior catcher Pat McMahon ended the inning with a strikeout.
Bang-bang-bang and the rally was over.
Penn State (17-10, 5-3 Big Ten) won the game 3-0, and the series 3-1.
“It’s kind of d
