In the last two games of its series against Michigan State, Northwestern found something it had been missing. On the backs of starting freshmen left-hander Christian Forniss and right-hander Matthew Kouser, coach Ben Greenspan’s young pitchers found consistency.
After scoring 11 runs in the first game of the series, though, the Wildcats (16-17, 7-8 Big Ten) failed to put the barrel to the ball in games two and three, losing the series to the Spartans (19-15, 6-9 Big Ten).
NU got going in the first inning, as sophomore outfielder Jackson Freeman singled to score junior infielder Owen McElfatrick. A throwing error on the same play scored junior infielder Trent Liolios, giving the ’Cats an early 2-0 lead.
Michigan State’s Sam Busch hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the frame to tie, but NU responded. A balk, single and sacrifice fly helped score four runs to restore the ’Cats’ lead. Another balk in the third made it a 7-2 contest.
Starting graduate student right-hander Sam Hliboki did not allow another Spartan run until the fifth inning when Michigan State’s Caleb Berry hit an RBI single.
McElfatrick doubled to right-center field to score two more runs for the ’Cats in the next inning, but Michigan State found a way to get back in the game.
Busch singled to score two runs in the bottom of the seventh, and in the subsequent inning the Spartans found their offensive form. They took advantage of NU’s pitching struggles and scored five runs, securing a 10-9 lead.
With the ’Cats needing a spark in the top of the ninth to keep the game alive, sophomore infielder Ryan Kucherak homered to center field, tying the game. While Michigan State threatened to win the game in the bottom of the ninth, Wade struck out the side to push it to extra innings.
Neither team broke through until the eleventh inning. Kucherak singled and graduate student utility player Tyler Ganus walked to get on base, and with two outs, sophomore catcher Joshua Ramos brought Kucherak home with a single through the left side. A 1-2-3 inning for Wade in the bottom of the frame sealed it, as NU took game one 11-10.
The ’Cats turned to Forniss in game two — his first career start. Forniss pitched five no-hit innings to start the game and supplement the struggling offense, which had scored zero runs through the first five innings. NU failed to score for the remainder of the game; however, the defense could not stave off the Spartan offense for long.
In the sixth inning, a single from Busch scored the first two runs of the game. After Michigan State’s Randy Seymour was hit by a pitch to extend the lead, Parker Picot hit a grand slam, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead. A single in the seventh and a double in the eighth gave the Spartans the ten runs they needed to take game two, as they shut out the ’Cats in eight innings. It marked the first time this season NU has been shut out.
NU once again found production from its starter in game three. Kouser pitched five scoreless innings before both squads scored their first and only runs of the contest in the sixth.
The ’Cats got started with a Freeman groundout that scored McElfatrick, but that was all they could muster in the affair.
A pair of doubles and a single in the bottom of the frame scored three runs for the Spartans. Michigan State only allowed two hits during the rest of the game, as it came from behind to take game three 3-1, claiming the series between conference foes.
NU returns to Rocky and Berenice Miller Park Tuesday to take on Northern Illinois.
Email: annawatson2027@u.northwestern.edu
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