University of Minnesota Athletics
Baseball Comes Up Short Versus Northwestern
5/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The University of Minnesota managed just four hits in its 2002 Big Ten Tournament debut, but surrendered 12, slipping against sixth-seeded Northwestern 5-2, Thursday night at Siebert Field. Junior C.J. Woodrow pitched eight and two-thirds strong innings, striking out six, but the Wildcats offense found ways to put the ball where Minnesota defenders were not.
Minnesota began the game with offensive authority. Junior Scott Welch reached base in the bottom of the second inning by drawing a full-count walk. Junior Ben Pattee followed with a rocket through the right side, sending Welch to third base. Three pitches later, junior David Roach ripped a double that hit the right-center field wall on one short hop. Welch and Pattee both scored, and Minnesota was ahead 2-0 after two innings.
Northwestern came right back in the top of the fourth, tying the game at 2-2. Dan Pohlman punched a two-out single up the middle to score Brandon Ackley and Travis Tharp from second and third erase the Minnesota lead.
The Wildcats added another pair in the top of the sixth on a pinch-hit single by Jason Krynski. Krynski poked a bases-loaded single up the middle to score David Gresky and Ackley, giving Northwestern a 4-3 advantage.
Down two, the Minnesota defense did turn in a few great plays to keep the Maroon and Gold in the game. Welch made another spectacular diving catch in the outfield to rob a hit, and later turned a leaping effort into a line-drive out, snaring the ball well over his head. Junior Luke Appert also made a great jumping catch, and freshman David Hrncirik dove to his left and his right to stop a few balls that looked like they were going to sneak through.
Although the effort was strong, the runs weren't there. Minnesota fell 5-2 to Northwestern, and slipped into the loser's bracket. The Wildcats advanced to play Ohio State Friday at 7 p.m. The Golden Gophers will play either Michigan State or Indiana Friday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. should Minnesota advance, it would need to defeat the loser of Northwestern and Ohio State to reach the championship game versus that winner. Should the Golden Gophers lose, they would be eliminated from the tournament.
Post-game Quotes
Minnesota head coach John Anderson
"This was s good college baseball game. [Zach] Schara was outstanding. I've seen him for four years and am not surprised with his effort tonight. I didn't think we played poor; I thought we competed. The difference was Schara - if you can't hit, you can't score runs."
"We didn't play a bad baseball game. Give credit where credit is due. Northwestern got hits, made plays, and that's what the game of baseball is all about. We didn't get the ball or calls to go our way, but that's baseball. Because one team won does not mean that the other team was bad, sometimes one team plays well, but the other team plays better. There is still lots of baseball to be played. You can't count us out yet."
Minnesota second baseman Luke Appert
"Schara pitched a heck of a game. My hats off to him. His pitches hit the inside and outside of the plate, and had a big curve. All three of his pitches were working which kept us hitters off balance. We put two runs up and had a few calls not go our way. Schara got in a grove and stuck with it. He kept mowing us down; no one could come up with a big hit."
Minnesota starting pitcher C.J. Woodrow
"I started out pretty well and felt I was ready to go. But I kept the ball up and they got hits. It's hard to win when the other team has 12 hits. I thought I executed well."
Northwestern head coach Paul Stevens
"I think we got our money's worth tonight. Everyone got what they wanted to see - a great college baseball game. Ryan [Bos] came up tight instead of forcing the issue. However, Zach did a great job. If anyone can get the job done, it's him."
"I don't believe there are any advantages or disadvantages to not playing the Gophers in regular season. Coaches know and understand other coaches, but you've got to leave it up to the kids."
Northwestern starting pitcher Zach Schara
"The whole day I felt great, I was very loose the whole day. In the middle innings I got ahead of the batters; I was happy with my performance. The cold doesn't matter when you have this much adrenaline."
