Five.
That’s the number of double plays Northwestern turned in its series-opening contest against Michigan State on Thursday at Rocky Miller Park.
It’s also the number of players who contributed to the quintet of twin killings. All defensive hands were on deck, as all four infielders-first baseman Paul Snieder, second baseman Zach Morton, third baseman Chris Lashmet and shortstop Trevor Stevens-plus right fielder Chris Kontos, touched the ball in those plays.
And if ever double plays were necessary, it was in this game.
Sophomore righty Francis Brooke pointed out that both NU and Michigan State are filled with aggressive hitters. That means a lot of balls in play and potential for a large number of quick groundouts. That’s exactly what happened in game one. Junior lefty Eric Jokisch made the Spartans’ batters put the ball in play, and the Wildcats capitalized on it.
Four of the five double plays were inning-enders with at least one player on base. One-a 6-4-3 in the second inning-came with the bases loaded and one out. In a one-run game, it’s that kind of out that is a pitcher’s best friend.
“They did a great job,” Jokisch said. “(Michigan State) got the ball on the ground and kept making contact, kept my pitch count pretty low, and we turned the double plays we needed in big situations, especially in the first two innings when we had double plays with bases loaded or (players on) first and third. They were huge turns.”
After a double-play-stuffed game one, which NU won 2-1, the Cats turned just one in each of the other two contests. But that doesn’t mean the players weren’t on top of their defensive game.
In the teams’ third contest, sophomore left fielder Geoff Rowan chased down a sinking line drive to left, diving to make an inning-ending catch. Without Rowan’s play, the Spartans’ Eli Boike would have scored from second base.
In the fifth inning of game two, Lashmet dove for a ball, stopping it in its tracks in time to complete the throw to Snieder at first base for the out. That play made the inning a six-pitch one for Brooke. Coach Paul Stevens loves when the players in the field can help preserve the starter’s arm as deep into the game as possible.
“Defensively, our infielders are playing unbelievable,” Stevens said. “I’m really proud of the way our whole group is finding ways of getting people out of innings.”
Another defensive specialist can be found in catcher Chad Noble. The senior, who is on the Johnny Bench Award watch list for his skills behind the dish, threw out two of the four runners who attempted steals on the weekend. Stevens said he’s always impressed at how effectively Noble shuts down opponents’ running games. The skipper sees his catcher as an explosive presence in the midst of base-stealing situations.
“He’s one of the top 10 catchers in the country at throwing people out,” Stevens said. “The times he got up to throw (in game two), it looked like he was coming up and assessing the situation and still threw aspirin tablets down there. Other people, you’re seeing them rush out of there, it’s like a fire drill. He’s laid-back, and it’s just boom-boom-bam, see ya!”
With two errorless contests and what Stevens called “stellar” infield play against the Spartans, how did the Cats come away with three errors in the third game?
In that match up, Michigan State became a bunting machine, putting down four successful bunts, only one of which NU fielded for an out. Two of the Cats’ three miscues came from pitchers’ throwing errors in bunting situations. Stevens said the team will address that issue during practice this week.
Lashmet said playing good defense behind good pitching “makes the team feel good.” The Cats have done a solid job at pairing the two in their last few series, and they look to continue that success in Columbus, Ohio, as the team plays its first Big Ten Tournament game since 2006 against Indiana at 2:35 p.m. on Wednesday.
